SALEM PONDERS DRUG TEST PROPOSAL

Salem's Public Schools Are Looking into Random Drug Tests for All
Extracurricular Activity Participants.

Salem public school administrators will continue to look into the
possibility of imposing random drug tests for all participants in
extracurricular activities, possibly beginning as early as next year.

The Salem School Board heard a recommendation to impose such testing
Tuesday night from a committee appointed earlier this year by
Superintendent Wayne Tripp to study the system's anti-drug-use policies.

Assistant Superintendent Mike Bryant chaired the committee,
originally charged to look at the system's Athletic Drug Pledge
Program after reports that alcohol and drug use was on the rise among
the school system's athletes.

Although all students are covered by school policies that prohibit
the use of alcohol or illegal drugs at school or during school
functions, athletes are currently required to take a pledge not to
use drugs or alcohol at any time during the seasons in which they
play. Violations can lead to suspension from their teams or even from
school.

The recommended program would extend that obligation to participants
in all extracurricular activities, and would enforce the prohibition
with random drug tests during the school year.

Tripp reminded the board that recent surveys indicated "no marked
increase in drug use over the last five years or so," with only 10 to
12 violations of the system's Standards of Student Conduct each year.
But the surveys also showed that a third of students said they had
used marijuana, with 10 percent saying they used that drug regularly.

Over the last decade, he said, there has been an increase in the
number of athletes who violated the anti-drug pledge, and "about 50
percent of seniors acknowledged using alcohol, tobacco or illicit
drugs during their season." One athlete has been permanently banned
from participation in sports because of repeated violations.

Bryant's committee was asked for suggestions on how to improve the
drug-use prevention program, particularly in light of additional
surveys that showed that drug use was the "top concern among
students, teachers and parents at Salem High."

"The conversation at our first meeting quickly turned to random drug
testing" as a possible deterrent, Bryant said.

Tripp pointed out that many details of the proposal have yet to be
fine tuned, but it likely will cost in excess of $25,000 a year to
administer. He also reminded the board that the U.S. Supreme Court
about a year ago ruled that such random drug testing was legal for
extracurricular participants, and could even be extended to those who
drive to school. Those activities are privileges, not rights, the
court said, and schools' interests in deterring drug use outweighed
students' privacy rights.

The Salem board directed the administration to continue to refine the
drug testing recommendation into a concrete plan for implementation,
which will then be presented to the public in a series of forums
before being considered for adoption.

In other action Tuesday, the board accepted a contract to
significantly increase the income it receives by leasing four
broadband channels whose licenses it holds. The channels, regulated
by the Federal Communications Commission, will be leased by Air Cable
of Salem for a minimum of $214,000 over a five-year contract.

The channels previously had been leased to Ntelos for $2,400 a
year.

The board also recognized Ted Powell for being named Virginia's
Visiting Teacher of the Year. Visiting teachers work with students in
their homes when they are not able or allowed to attend school.