SALEM SCHOOLS EYE RANDOM DRUG TESTS

The Proposal Comes From a Committee That Studied the School System's
20-Year-Old Athletic Drug Pledge.

A Salem school system committee has proposed a random drug-testing
program as the best means to discourage illegal drug use among
athletes and other students involved in extracurricular activities.

That proposal will go before the Salem School Board on Tuesday, when
Superintendent Wayne Tripp will outline the conclusions of a
15-member committee he appointed in May.

Tripp asked the panel to look at the school division's athletic drug
pledge, in use for two decades.

The pledge requires athletes to promise that they will not use drugs
during their sports seasons, or be subject to discipline by the
school system that can range from suspension from their teams or from
school.

Tripp pointed out that the athletes' pledge deals only with
off-campus behavior. When they are in school, or at school functions
even if they are off campus, they are subject to the Standards of
Student Conduct -- including a prohibition of drug use -- governing
all students.

"What happened when we got the study group together was that the
coaches, athletes and parents were near unanimous in saying, 'We
believe you've got to take this to another level ... that's got teeth
in it,' " Tripp said.

The committee concluded that the program would cost a minimum of
$25,000 a year.

A couple of things helped raise the issue for Salem's schools in the
past year.

One, according to the study committee's report, was "some discussion
in the community that the use of alcohol and drugs has increased
among our athletes."

Tripp said there had been a spike in the number of drug offenses at
the high school last year, although he didn't know the exact number
and insisted that it is important "to keep in mind we're talking
about pretty small numbers. Typically, we have 10 to 15 violations
in any given year."

Salem has approximately 4,000 students, including some 1,200 in the
ninth through 12 grades in its high school.

Most drug violations don't involve "buying from some druggie on the
street corner, shooting up heroin, but getting them from mommy and
daddy's medicine cabinet at home," Tripp said.

Another incentive for looking at the policy was a change in Virginia
law in May that requires the Virginia High School League, which
oversees competitive extracurricular activities -- including
athletics -- to impose a two-year ineligibility on students who use
illegal steroids. It also requires that a coach's teaching license be
revoked if he or she provides or turns a blind eye to steroids.

There are a lot of details to be worked out before a drug-testing
program could be implemented, but Tripp said he hopes one can be in
place in time for the next school year, if the school board endorses
the idea.

He acknowledged that is an ambitious timetable, given that there will
have to be a series of community meetings on the proposal, as well as
one or more public hearings by the school board. No dates have yet
been set.

"There will be an opportunity for parents, teachers, coaches and the
public to weigh in," Tripp said.

It was at the public comment stage that a similar proposal for
Roanoke County schools was killed a year ago after negative public
reaction.

But in Salem, "so far, we've had nothing but positive reactions,"
Tripp said. "I've run the idea by the PTA Council, by the
superintendent's advisory teacher council, even in front of the
student advisory group. I've not had a negative voice yet."

Still, "people will argue about anything, of course, so I expect
there will be opposition," he said. "We'll put it in front of the
community and see what happens at that stage."

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2002 that school divisions could
impose random drug tests on athletes and others involved in
extracurricular activities, including those who drive themselves to
school. Such activities are privileges, not rights, the court said,
and schools' interests in keeping drugs out supersedes students'
right to privacy.

"We're well aware of the fact that this is likely to provoke a lot of
discussion," Tripp said.

Earlier this year, Robert Kanaby, executive director of the National
Federation of State High School Associations, told Congress that
while drug testing is an effective deterrent, most school systems
can't afford it.

He urged Congress not to require such tests, but to focus "primarily
on education rather than on mandates relating to testing or other
punitive measures. ... At our level, education is the right answer."

Tripp said education would be a critical part of any drug testing
program in Salem.

The study committee's proposal suggests that a positive test result
in counseling for the student and parents, as well as "continued
testing if necessary."

And Tripp said he believes the system needs "to improve on our
intervention after a student is found to have problems," making that
more comprehensive.

"The proposal is a long way from being perfected," Tripp
said.

The drug policy is only one aspect of a broader look at
extracurricular activities the Salem schools have undertaken.

Among other things that will be presented to the school board Tuesday
is a report on Salem High's compliance with federal Title IX
regulations requiring equality in the treatment of boys and girls
sports.