GALENA, BAXTER SPRINGS TO CONSIDER DRUG-TESTING POLICIES

Two area Kansas school boards on Monday are expected to approve drug- and
alcohol-testing policies for pupils involved in extracurricular activities.

If approved, new policies at Galena and Baxter Springs would take effect at
the beginning of the next school year. The policies for both school
districts are similar. Both are based partly on a pupil drug-testing policy
in place in Columbus. The Columbus School District does not test pupils for
alcohol use, however.

The policies apply to pupils in grades seven through 12 who are involved in
extracurricular or co-curricular activities - sports, band, school clubs,
school dances, theater and chess teams.

Both policies include alcohol, illegal drugs and performance-enhancing
drugs. The Galena policy also includes tobacco.

Punishment for violating the policies would affect the pupils'
participation in school activities, but not their participation in school.

The pupils will receive a copy of the policy. It requires the participating
pupil and parent to sign a consent form and return it to school office
during the first week of school. The policies state that those who don't
return their consent forms will be ineligible for activities. The consent
form places the pupils' names in a pool for random selection each week.

The policies state pupils selected would be required to provide urine or
saliva samples for testing. The Baxter Springs School District would select
five to 10 pupils for testing every two weeks, while the Galena School
District would test 10 to 20 pupils every two weeks. Pupils also may be
tested based on suspicion.

The policies state that pupils attending school dances or other
school-sponsored activities may be randomly required to submit to alcohol
breath analysis.

When a specimen tests positive for any of the drugs for which the districts
are testing, the positive result would be confirmed through retesting of
the sample before the lab reports the results to top school officials. A
school official would then notify the pupil's parents. Parents may appeal
the ruling, but the policies state the school districts will rely on the
opinion of the laboratory that conducted the test.

A school official also would notify the parents of pupils who test negative
for drugs.

Pupils must submit to another test, paid by themselves or their parents,
before resuming school activities after their punishment.

The punishments under the Baxter Springs policy are:

For the first offense, suspension from activities, performances and
competitions for eight weeks. Enrollment in a treatment program reduces the
suspension to four weeks.

For the second offense, suspension from activities for 36 weeks, or 18
weeks with enrollment in a treatment program.

The third offense results in suspension from all activities for the rest of
the pupil's school career.

The punishments under the Galena policy are:

For the first offense for alcohol or tobacco use, suspension from
activities, performances and competitions for two weeks.

For the second offense for alcohol or tobacco use, or first offense for
drug use, suspension from activities for eight weeks. Enrollment in a
treatment program reduces the suspension to four weeks.

For the third offense for alcohol or tobacco use, or the second offense for
drug use, suspension from activities for 36 weeks. Enrollment in a
treatment program again reduces the suspension by half.

The fourth offense for alcohol or tobacco use, or third drug use offense
results in suspension from all activities for the rest of the pupil's
school career.

Under both policies, pupils may admit to using prohibited items, but the
admission would count as an offense. Failure to submit to a test also
counts as an offense under the policies.

The Riverton School District also is developing a drug-testing policy for
pupils involved in extracurricular activities.