MORTON WEIGHS NEW SCHOOL DRUG TESTING POLICY

School Board Expected To Vote On Issue At Feb. 5 Meeting

MORTON - Morton High School students involved in extracurricular
activities could be subject to random drug testing beginning next school year.

District 709 Superintendent Roger Kilpatrick unveiled a drug testing
policy written by district and high school administrators at a School
Board meeting Tuesday. Board members are expected to vote on the
policy at their Feb. 5 meeting.

The policy mirrors one that has been in effect at East Peoria
Community High School since the beginning of the 2006-07 school year.

Morton's policy calls for random urine testing of about 10 students
per week throughout the school year at an annual cost of about
$15,000. Testing would be done by the Tazwood Mental Health Center.
Students could be tested throughout their four years in high school.
If they declined, they'd have to sit out extracurricular activities
for one year.

Police would not be notified of a positive test, but a student would
be subject to the penalties imposed in the appropriate athletic or
activity code. Help would be made available, with parents bearing the
brunt of the financial obligation.

About 600 students, about two-thirds of the high school's enrollment,
are currently involved in extracurricular activities.

Kilpatrick emphasized that drug testing is being brought forward to
help students.

"We feel testing would give a student an opportunity to say 'no' and
an avenue for intervention if it's needed," he said. "It's also
important that we prepare our students for the work world. Many
employers require a drug test for future employees."

The policy generated only positive comments from School Board members.

"This could help the kid on the fence who values being on the speech
team, playing basketball or running track," said Doug Riddle.

"We could change the course of someone's life. How can you put a
price tag on that?" asked Joyce Kaiser.

John Applen said it's important that a positive test is kept in
context. "A positive test doesn't mean that the administration, staff
or parents have failed," he said. "It just means a student has gotten
sidetracked. It happens."

District 709 administrators and School Board members have been
discussing drug testing since the late 1990s, but they've been
hesitant to implement it because of the complexities involved.

Board member Nancy Overcash said now that the administration is
confident that many of the questions have been answered, it's time
for the School Board to take action.

Kilpatrick said drug testing could be done at Morton Junior High
School after the high school testing is up and running.

Morton High School Principal Dennis Johnson and Athletic Director
Greg Pritchard have done extensive research on drug testing policies,
including getting an eyewitness look at East Peoria's testing.

"Watching the testing at East Peoria sold us on the process," Pritchard said.