DUBLIN BOARD OKS DRUG TESTS

Student athletes at Dublin Coffman and Dublin Scioto high schools will take
drug tests this fall designed to detect substances such as alcohol,
nicotine and LSD.

Meanwhile, all students in middle and high school will find it's OK to
carry some nonprescription drugs, such as Tylenol, as long as parents put
their permission on file. Before, students had to leave all medications in
the school office.

The Dublin Board of Education approved both policies last night as members
debated just how far the district should go in monitoring student behavior.

The medications policy passed unanimously. The drug-testing policy passed
by a 4- 1 vote.

Board member Mark Holderman, the dissenter, said he wants to see more
evidence defining the scope of drug use among teens in the Dublin school
district.

"It is easy to state there is a problem and get some type of support," he
said. "However, we have to define the issue as it affects our schools. It
can't be (merely) a moral issue."

The drug-testing policy drew the most discussion. About 25 parents attended
the meeting, and several spoke.

"It's not your job," said Allen Rogers, who has a child in elementary
school and one in middle school. He said parents do need to pay more
attention to what their children are up to, but "let's get them involved in
other ways."

Phil Bougher, another parent, said the policy violates students' civil rights.

"There is an assumption that you're not innocent and you have to prove you
are."

The new rule will require athletes in grades nine through 12 to take a
urine test at the beginning of the season for their sport. Parents will pay
the $26 charge for the initial test. The district has budgeted $30,000 to
pay for weekly random screenings of up to 10 percent of the high schools'
1,900 athletes in the coming school year.

The screenings are for up to 13 drugs, including amphetamines, barbiturates
and marijuana. Tests will be for at least 10 substances each time and may
look for additional substances, such as steroids.

Students who flunk the first test won't be penalized. The results will be
released only to their parents, but those students will be tested again,
and their parents must pay.

Students who fail the test the second time will have to sit out 20 percent
of their season or perform 40 hours of community service. Those who won't
do the service projects will have to sit out another 20 percent of games.

Those who fail again will have to sit out half their games and matches, or
perform 40 hours of service and sit out 20 percent of the season. If more
than half the season is over, the penalty will extend into the next school
year.

Those who fail a fourth test get kicked off the team.

Superintendent Stephen Anderson said the policy will give student athletes
a reason to say no when offered alcohol or other drugs.

"Eleven percent of our students in grades nine through 12 reported
traveling in a car at least once with a student who was drinking," Anderson
said. He added that many parents do not know what their children are up to.

Athletes in several other central Ohio districts, including Pickerington,
also have to take drug tests. Federal courts have upheld such testing for
athletes and, in some cases, for those in other extracurricular activities.

Dublin Police Chief Rob Geis said that, during the past school year, police
who work in the high schools did not see much drug use. Officers have been
on duty at both schools for two years and will start a third in the fall.

He told the board that 30 incidents last school year required police
intervention, "mostly for theft of personal property."

The board renewed its contract with the Dublin Police Department to provide
an officer in each of the high schools. The total cost is $114,446 for the
coming school year, with the district paying half and the city of Dublin
picking up the other half.