NEW ISSUES SURFACE WITH DRUG POLICY

Cost of Mandated Counseling Not Taken into Consideration

The cost of counseling has become an issue in light of Tuesday's passage of
a policy that calls for the random drug testing of students who participate
in extracurricular activities and drive on campus.

The cost of counseling was not taken into consideration before the Columbia
County School Board voted 4-1 to adopt the policy which takes effect July 1.

According to the policy, students in grades six-12 who test positive on a
random drug test must enter a counseling program and take another test that
yields negative results before resuming extracurricular activities. Also
according to the policy, the student and/or the family will be responsible
for the costs relating to six weeks of counseling.

The first positive test calls for a student to enroll in a Florida licensed
substance abuse program within five working days and the student must be
attend sessions for six weeks, with attendance required at least once a week.

During the meeting varying amounts were given for the sessions. Some said
the sessions would be around the $100 per-session range.

Glenn Hunter, school board chairman, said the school system's Drug-Free
School Random Drug Testing Committee will meet again to discuss new issues
and concerns regarding the policy, including the counseling and its costs.

"The committee has decided they would meet again and work to revamp the
issues brought on by both sides because they want to do the best job they
possibly can," Hunter said.

The costs associated with counseling became an issue with both supporters
and opponents.

Hunter said the costs also were a concern for board members and everyone
involved. He said they have time to work out the bugs since the policy
doesn't take effect until July.

"Our goal is to make sure we do everything to provide good, quality
counseling for students," Hunter said. "We will give this (student random
drug testing policy) a try and do the best we can. Our goal is to save as
many children and families as possible and we will do whatever is humanly
possible."

Hunter said information from the Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey as
well as surveys of local students showed there was a need to implement the
policy in Columbia County.

Harvey Campbell, a school board member, said he wasn't 100 percent
comfortable with the policy because of the basic fairness issue created by
starting the program in mid-year since some kids would have been covered
and others would not.

He also said he had concerns about counseling costs that could be
associated with the policy.

"I think it is incumbent of the school district to make sure the
(counseling) services are available," Campbell said. "I don't think it
would be fair to put students or parents in a situation where the services
are not available or would be cost prohibitive."

Campbell said there are several options to make sure counseling wouldn't be
a financial burden and one would be to hire a person who could provide
appropriate counseling that the school district could make available.

He also said grants may be available, especially since the school district
put the policy in place.

"We need to work to make sure parents and students find that counseling. We
need to almost guarantee it's in place," he said.