DISTRICT ADOPTS DRUG POLICY

Jim Thorpe Area will require students in athletics to be tested.

The Jim Thorpe Area School Board unanimously approved one student policy and
narrowly rejected another several hours after the first day of the new
school year had ended.

The board on Monday voted to approve a drug testing policy for district
students who wish to participate in athletic events.

Under the policy, students who participate in athletic events must be tested
and remain drug-free year-round to be eligible to play sports.

School Director Thomas Jones questioned the policy in the event the district
receives a complaint from a parent whose child fails the drug test.

''What happens if one of the parents comes in and questions us about it,
what do we do then?'' Jones asked.

''I don't know how they could go against a written policy,'' said board Vice
President Patricia Zovak.

While the board faced little uncertainty in passing the drug testing policy,
a proposed Saturday morning detention policy didn't fare quite so well.

The policy, which would have mandated a student attend a three-hour
detention session from 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays, failed to pass despite a
4-3 vote in its favor. For a policy to pass, five school directors must vote
in its favor.

Current policy mandates a student attend five one-hour weekday detention
sessions.

School Director Glenn Confer said he was against the policy because he
didn't feel it was a solution in teaching students discipline.

''We've got to learn to start helping our students,'' Confer said. ''Don't
you think it's about time we began to do our job?

''We need to put them in an atmosphere where they can't move, but rather
stay in the room and don't leave. It's a joke, and I'll guarantee this won't
work.''

Jones also questioned the policy.

Also on Monday the board was informed of an increase in attendance at the
junior high school.

Junior high Principal Jeff James told the board 189 students are registered
in seventh grade, 21 of whom are new to the district.

''I'm concerned about the size, because the problem is we don't have the
staff to keep up with them,'' James said. ''We will keep an eye on those
class sizes.''

The board also on Monday announced it has received two grants from the state
Department of Education of more than $41,000.

Terry Ahner is a freelance writer.