Posted on 03/29/2006 8:07:26 PM PST by MRMEAN
Drug testing is now officially a reality for Fort Payne middle and high school students.
The Fort Payne Board of Education voted unanimously Monday to adopt a drug-testing program, aimed at middle and high school students who participate in competitive extracurricular activities. Board member Jimmy Durham did not attend Monday’s meeting but had earlier voiced support for the program.
The board voted to implement “phase one” of the program beginning April 3, which will allow any students to volunteer for drug testing. Those students would then be subject to random selection.
During the first phase, any student may volunteer to become part of the pool for random testing.
“Phase two” will begin June 5. At this time, students who are involved in competitive extracurricular activities or who choose to park vehicles on any of the Fort Payne school campuses will be subject to random testing.
The program is being implemented through a grant obtained through the Partnership for a Drug-Free DeKalb County.
Liz Wear, director of the partnership, said the grant application specified that random testing be limited to students participating in competitive extracurricular activities. Wear said city school board attorney Bob Jordan interpreted that to mean “interscholastic extracurricular activities,” or extracurricular activities that involve competition with other schools.
A number of groups therefore fall under the umbrella for random testing, including all sports teams, band members and students involved in such organizations as Family, Career and Community Leaders of America, Future Farmers of America, high school chorus, scholar’s bowl team, math team, student council and French and Spanish clubs.
Some extracurricular activities fall outside the scope of testing, said Superintendent Jim Cunningham, because they involve only intrascholastic competition, such as Calendar Girl. He said that if, at any time in the future, such activities expand to include competition with other schools, the drug testing policy would then apply.
Also, Cunningham noted that all students who drive to school and park vehicles on campus are subject to random testing.
Partnership received a $500,000 grant last year to implement drug testing in both the city and county school systems. Wear said the DeKalb County Board of Education is expected to take up discussion about drug testing when it meets Thursday.
"who choose to park vehicles on any of the Fort Payne school campuses will be subject to random testing."
So if you drive to school we get to take and test your body fluids.... that's very American /s
Volunteer to have your rights violated. The brainwashing of our youth continues. You must conform, like a good citizen.
I think this is a great idea. It might finally sink in to the general public what these government indoctrination camps are really all about with a pig-headed, and I do mean pig, "program" like this.
Well, I vote to drug test some friggin school board members.
Because these students are where the drug problem is.
It would make more sense to credit the kids on the math team etc for being involved in activities by NOT testing them.
The students NOT involved in after school clubs and teams s/b the ones tested. Give them incentive to join something.
Ridiculous! I have a teen-age son. If I want to give him a test, it is fine, but the school etc can stay out of it.
Now, I do have some tests and he knows that I can test him at any moment. I haven't yet! ;)I like the deterrant factor. Understand that I hope he is smart enough not to, but he has that extra incentive. In a way, it can relieve the peer pressure because he can say that his mom may test him.
Well, they can't drug test all of students because half the students would flunk the test and, then what?
Hey, you might as well get the kiddies used to it. It's going to get worse.
When I was in school the phrase, "Show me your papers" only meant that a teacher wanted to see one's homework.
My daughter graduated from an all girls Catholic school. In her junior and senior years, the school instituted a drug testing program for all students. There were no exceptions to this rule. If you wanted to attend the school, you had to comply. The testing required the cutting of a small amount of hair near the crown of the head. My daughter had no problems with doing it, and because we wanted her to continue at this school, we went along.
Partnership received a $500,000 grant last year to implement drug testing in both the city and county school systems.
Where does the Partnership get its money?
I'm surprised no WOD cheerleaders have posted to tell you that you must have something to hide.
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