LAMAR EXPANDS DRUG TEST POLICY

Voluntary Testing Will Be Offered To All Students

Oak Grove varsity basketball player Lebaron Weathers took his first
drug test last week, but wasn't concerned about the outcome.

"I knew I wasn't doing any drugs so I wasn't worried about it," he
said.

Lamar County students who participate in athletics and other
extracurricular activities began undergoing drug tests this fall.

Now the school district plans to expand its drug testing beyond
students who participate in school activities. The district also will
implement an assistance program for students who test positive for
drugs.

The district recently received a $572,910 grant from the U.S.
Department of Education Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools to expand
its policy to include voluntary, random drug-testing for students who,
along with their parents, give written consent.

Lamar County Schools Superintendent Glenn Swan estimated the testing
under the current drug policy costs $25,000. The grant allows the
district to expand the program and allow for support services such as
counseling.

While students affected by the mandatory drug testing lose the chance
to participate in their activity, Assistant Superintendent Johnny
Downs said the school district has not decided on a disciplinary
course of action for students who test positive for the voluntary tests.

Swan said the hope is that the testing will reduce drug use among high
school students. Swan said five students have tested positive
districtwide so far. Drug usage data was unavailable Thursday.

Oak Grove High School Principal Wayne Folkes said the current drug
policy has been a success at his school and most of the students who
participate in fall sports have been tested. "Parents, as well as us
in the school, do not want drugs altering our kids or affecting our
kids," he said.

Originally published November 11, 2005 Print this article Email this
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Drug testing

The program: Lamar County Schools received a $572,910 grant to
implement Project CARE to expand its drug policy to include a
voluntary, random-drug testing component for parents and students who
provide written information.

The plan: The district will implement a student assistance program and
participating students will remain in the random drug-testing pool for
an academic year.