SOME DOUBT DRUG POLICY WILL ACCOMPLISH OBJECTIVE

BRISTOL, Va. - Virginia High School freshman Jeremy Talley says he will
quit football next year if he's forced to take a random drug test.

And he thinks others may follow suit.

But junior Jimmy Hall said he thinks the testing will boost sports programs
because it would force athletes to take their sport seriously and avoid
drugs and alcohol.

Random drug testing for students involved in extracurricular activities has
become the most controversial piece of the School Board's new comprehensive
drug and alcohol policy.

High school and eighth-grade junior varsity students who test positive for
drugs or alcohol twice will be barred from participating in any
extracurricular activity for the remainder of their enrollment.

"Two strikes is too quick," said Lester Byington, track coach for the high
school. "It's going to turn a lot of them off to athletics. Everything
about (the policy) is good except that two strikes is too harsh."

The policy changed to two strikes after a number of board members expressed
concerns that three strikes were one too many. If students haven't learned
a lesson after testing positive twice, little reason exists to allow their
participation in extracurricular activities, said board Chairman John Kieffer.

Others said they felt the same way.

"I think we need to put teeth into this (policy)," said Randy White, a
board member. "Two positive drug tests within 30 days - that's a big
problem there."

But two members, Jaymie Derden and Virginia Goodson, said they believe the
policy would be more punitive than helpful.

The board compromised by keeping the two strikes and allowing students to
appeal to the board after 18 months for permission to rejoin
extracurricular activities with proof that they no longer were using drugs
or alcohol.

"We wanted to have a remedial policy, but on the other hand ... we wanted a
certain and quick consequence to flow from repeated use of drugs," Kieffer,
the chairman, said.

The appeal to the board would allow students to demonstrate they've
rehabilitated, he said.

School Board Vice Chairman Butch Tolley voted against the policy, in part
because it contained random drug testing.

"I'm not against a drug and alcohol policy at all, but I'm not for any
policy that's going to single out any group of students," he said. "I think
all students should be treated the same. I felt like (the policy) was for
all students, but all students were not being treated equally."

Some parents said they felt like focusing only on those involved in
extracurricular activities meant that other students would miss out on
much-needed help.

"I think we're missing a key group," said Kevin Meade, Van Pelt Elementary
School's PTA president. "Can these dollars be used to support the whole
school?"

The Supreme Court has ruled that schools may conduct random drug testing on
students involved in extracurriculars because the students voluntarily
choose to participate. It's a violation of students' rights to test
everyone because going to school is not a choice, the court ruled.

Still, many students said they felt like it was unfair for the policy to
target those who participate in extracurricular activities.

"Isn't that what extracurriculars are for - to keep you out of drugs?"
asked Brandon Whitt, a freshman football player. "It think it's really
going to affect how many people will play sports."

Students debated whether drugs were more of a problem with those who
participated in extracurricular activities.

"There's a lot more problems with people who play sports," said Mitch
Morrow, a football player and junior.

"I think the problems are everywhere," countered Jerry Goodpasture, a
senior soccer player.

Statistics show that in about the past four years, the board has had 32
student hearings on drug- and alcohol-related problems.

Of the 32, only four students participated in extracurricular activities
and would be subject to random drug testing.

Virginia High principal Ina Danko said drug incidents occur infrequently.

"We deal with attendance, tardiness and complacency every day," she said.
"We address the drug issue when needed, but it's not something we deal with
every day."

Board members said a need exists for a comprehensive policy because drugs
have become an issue in the community, which translates into an issue for
schools.

"The extent (of the problem) may be beside the point in that a lot of
students and their parents are worried about drugs," said Kieffer, the
board chairman. "If they are, then we ought to do something to allay their
concerns."

Students also took issue with the suspension time after a first drug
offense. Students will not be allowed to participate in extracurricular
activities for 30 days, and then they will be tested again.

"If you miss 30 days, your season is pretty much over," said Matt Grimm, a
senior football player. "A coach isn't going to come back and let you play
after that."

Kieffer said board members have taken their time in creating a thoughtful
and thorough policy. Establishing the policy has been a board goal for the
past four years, but the actual work on putting it together has been under
way since the beginning of the school year.

"It took some time for several reasons," Kieffer said. "None of us had ever
done this before, and we wanted to have input from as many groups as possible."

An ongoing problem in creating the policy had been the absence of feedback
from the public.

"One thing we have been disappointed in is the extent of public involvement
and parents in developing this policy," he said. "While we appreciate the
input we've gotten, we haven't seen much from the rank-and-file parents who
are more affected than anyone else. We wish we could have had more from
parents, but we're doing the best we can with what we've got."

Regardless of the policy's cost, method and intent, some said they didn't
feel like it ultimately accomplished its objective - to help solve the
problem of drugs and alcohol in school.

"I think it's pointless because kids are going to do what they're going to
do," said Jerry, the soccer player. "Everyone knows smoking is bad, but
half the people here do it anyway."