WALTON-VERONA MAY TEST FOR DRUGS

[CaptinCrunch]

06 Oct 2004

Kentucky
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Walton-Verona High School could begin testing student athletes for drugs immediately if the district's school board approves a drug-testing policy later this month. District school officials discussed a proposed drug-testing policy Tuesday night with about 100 parents who were at the school for an open house.

School officials haven't received major objections from parents or students, though parents did want to know the details about who would be tested and when.

The school system plans to test athletes in grades 9-12 once they make a team and then randomly afterward, said Superintendent Bill Boyle. The district believes a drug-testing policy will give students another reason not to use drugs.

"It gives them another tool in their defense against peer pressure," Boyle said.

The testing will look for drugs, such as marijuana and cocaine. The district is starting with student athletes, but could expand the testing to students participating in other extra-curricular activities. All the school's clubs have drug-free pledges for students, Boyle said.

School officials say they wanted to enact a drug-testing policy because student surveys indicate drug use hasn't declined in recent years.

"Students are using drugs after school, on weekends and in cars," Boyle said. "Now they can say 'I can't' because they get drug tested at school."

The proposed policy, to be discussed by the school board Oct. 21, would affect about 280 students, or about half the student body, Boyle said.

If the school board approves the drug-testing policy, it would be the latest in Northern Kentucky to do so. The U.S. Supreme Court two years ago approved random drug tests for students who join competitive after-school activities or athletic teams, though some Northern Kentucky districts have tested athletes since the mid-1990s.

[Stormchaser16]

Hunterdon Central Regional high school

[therock1811]

This is maybe 10 miles south and I've not heard this???

[Miss Mary]

Wow, usually Walton Verona is known for closing at the first snowflake! Right Jeremy? My kids are always saying they want to move there, just to get snowdays.....but this was news to me also.

Mary

[therock1811]

Wow, usually Walton Verona is known for closing at the first snowflake! Right Jeremy? My kids are always saying they want to move there, just to get snowdays.....but this was news to me also.

Mary

You're not kidding! They're in the same county, yet at the first sign of snow, they're closed.