News (Media Awareness Project) - US NC: Currituck Mulls Drug Tests For Students |
| Title: | US NC: Currituck Mulls Drug Tests For Students |
| Published On: | 2007-04-11 |
| Source: | Daily Advance, The (Elizabeth City, NC) |
| Fetched On: | 2008-01-12 08:14:57 |
CURRITUCK MULLS DRUG TESTS FOR STUDENTS
The Currituck Knights could soon have something in common with the
big leaguers, but it isn't likely to be cause for celebration. Like
their professional counterparts, Currituck County High School
student-athletes could be subject to random drug tests under a policy
Superintendent C. Michael Warren proposed to the Currituck County
Board of Education on Monday. If approved, the policy would affect
high school students with parking permits and students who
participate in voluntary extracurricular activities, including
student-athletes.
Warren said the policy would be modeled after a similar measure used
in Dare County.
"When I talked to (Dare Superintendent) Sue Burgess, she said it is
important that the consequences not be punitive on the first offense," he said.
Warren said drug testing has been effective in Dare County, but the
tests resulted in some uncomfortable truths about drug use among students.
"The problem is worse than they thought it was," he said.
Warren said that substance abuse in Currituck is a concern.
According to data from the N.C. Department of Public Instruction, six
students at Currituck high were reported being in possession of
alcohol and four in possession of a controlled substance during the
2005-06 school year. Warren said Dare County set aside about $30,000
to run its program, but did not have to spend any of it because a
grant was made available.
The grant covers the cost of the tests, the salaries of a test
administrator and a medical review officer for three years.
Warren said he is looking into securing a similar grant for Currituck Schools.
If the policy is implemented, about 50 percent of eligible students
would be tested each year, officials said.
The board agreed to revisit the policy at its May 14 meeting.
A complete draft of the policy can be seen online at the Currituck
County Schools Web site: www.currituck.k12.nc.us. To view the policy,
click on the "new policies under consideration" link and then click
on the link to "random suspicionless drug testing policy" link.
The Currituck Knights could soon have something in common with the
big leaguers, but it isn't likely to be cause for celebration. Like
their professional counterparts, Currituck County High School
student-athletes could be subject to random drug tests under a policy
Superintendent C. Michael Warren proposed to the Currituck County
Board of Education on Monday. If approved, the policy would affect
high school students with parking permits and students who
participate in voluntary extracurricular activities, including
student-athletes.
Warren said the policy would be modeled after a similar measure used
in Dare County.
"When I talked to (Dare Superintendent) Sue Burgess, she said it is
important that the consequences not be punitive on the first offense," he said.
Warren said drug testing has been effective in Dare County, but the
tests resulted in some uncomfortable truths about drug use among students.
"The problem is worse than they thought it was," he said.
Warren said that substance abuse in Currituck is a concern.
According to data from the N.C. Department of Public Instruction, six
students at Currituck high were reported being in possession of
alcohol and four in possession of a controlled substance during the
2005-06 school year. Warren said Dare County set aside about $30,000
to run its program, but did not have to spend any of it because a
grant was made available.
The grant covers the cost of the tests, the salaries of a test
administrator and a medical review officer for three years.
Warren said he is looking into securing a similar grant for Currituck Schools.
If the policy is implemented, about 50 percent of eligible students
would be tested each year, officials said.
The board agreed to revisit the policy at its May 14 meeting.
A complete draft of the policy can be seen online at the Currituck
County Schools Web site: www.currituck.k12.nc.us. To view the policy,
click on the "new policies under consideration" link and then click
on the link to "random suspicionless drug testing policy" link.
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