ACS MAY DRUG TEST STUDENTS

The sometimes controversial topic of testing students in grades seven
through 12 for drugs and alcohol was placed on the table for
consideration for 60 days by the Auburn City Schools Board of
Education at its meeting Tuesday.

The policy would require testing all student-athletes, students in
extracurricular activities or students who park on school grounds.

If the policy is put in place, students whose parents do not consent
to the testing, will be banned from extracurricular activities or
driving a car onto campus.

Auburn City Schools Superintendent Terry Jenkins said he expects there
to be questions about the proposed policy.

"Anytime you undertake a project like this, there are people who might
not understand what our motives are," Jenkins said. "I really believe
at the end of the process, the vast majority of the people will be
very supportive."

Jenkins said a task force made up of faculty, parents and students
have been working for the past several months on the project. ACS
received grant money to do research on the topic and for testing over
a three-year period.

"When looking in Alabama, we found a number of systems that have a
program similar to this in place and has been in place from the middle
to late 90s," Jenkins said. "We are placing this on the table for 60
days to make sure we have plenty of input from the community. It will
be in the city's newsletter and in the media to alert the community.

"We care very much about the children and want to give them more
options on why to say, 'no,'" Jenkins said.

Jenkins said the policy will cover about 75 percent of students and
parents will be able to put their child's name on the list if not
covered by the policy.

Confidentiality is a high concern for the board, the committee and
students. Although no specific details have been worked out, parents
will be notified if a students tests positive to drugs or alcohol, not
law enforcement. One the first offense, the student will be sent to
counseling but will not be taken out of activities. On the second
offense, the student will be on limited activities for about nine weeks.

Auburn High School Principal Cathy Long said students were reluctant
to want the policy in the high school, but Auburn Junior High School
students were supportive of the policy.

"Many of the high school students on the committee were concerned that
the test would come back inaccurate and they would be taken out of
activities and everyone would know," Long said. "As we talked through
it, the students became more comfortable. They took the issue to the
Debate Class and after debating, the pros had it. They stopped me in
the hall to tell me they were in favor of the policy."

Long said the vote of the committee was unanimous in favor of the
policy.

Patti Sprayberry, a parent and committee member, was concerned about
the procedure of the test.

"When I heard the procedure would be monitored and observed, it sent
chills down my back," she said. "I have concerns, and I think it needs
to be monitored, but by only one person. This is a sensitive issue. We
are asking children to do something they aren't comfortable doing."

Jenkins said the procedure would be as much like a trip to the
doctor's office as possible with professionals administering the test
and being done consistently.

The Board said it will try to get as much information as possible out
about the procedures as they become available. Jenkins, assistant
superintendent Joyce Morgan and administrative assistant Todd Freeman
are available to answer question at 887-2100.

Other school districts in Alabama with student drug testing policies
include the following: Decatur City, Hartselle City, Hoover City,
Mountain Brook City, Muscle Shoals City, Opelika City, Pell City,
Shelby County Schools and Vestavia Hills City.