Board hears about random drug testing

By GINA KINSLOW

EDMONTON — Metcalfe County school officials say they are aware of the rumors circulating that the school district has a student drug problem.

“We haven’t really investigated it to see the depths of that problem in a large way, but we would be blind, I think, if we didn’t know the temptation is out there for experimentation for drugs for our young people,” said Patricia Hurt, superintendent.

That is why members of the Metcalfe County Board of Education invited Bill Ramange with Premier Drug Testing, of Russell Springs, to speak to them Monday night about random student drug testing.

Ramange talked to school board members about why they should consider testing students for drugs. The number one reason, he said, is to keep a drug problem from developing.

Students have been taught to “say no to drugs” for many years. Random student drug testing offers them one more way to “say no to drugs,” he said.

“Kids are so image conscious,” Ramange said. “They want to be cool and they want to say no. What is hard for them is to say ‘no’ and look uncool. Random drug testing, and particularly if it is marketed that way, it can be a cool reason to say no.”

Only students participating in extra curricular activities, including athletics, can be tested. Students participating in activities for which they receive grades cannot be tested, he said.

Board member Julie Parsons asked if the company did blanket drug screens where everyone was tested.

Ramange replied that they have done that in the past.

“Usually, when I hear of a school testing everybody, they have a grant,” he said.

All drug tests, whether they are blanket screens or individual students at random, will be confidential. No one will know who has been chosen for testing until the day the company’s representatives arrive to do the actual tests.

“The school board will not have the ability to control who is selected,” Ramange said, adding students will be chosen at random via computer.

The company conducts an 11 panel urine drug test, which includes illegal drugs including — marijuana, cocaine, opiates, PCP, and amphetamines.

“Amphetamines will include methamphetamine. It will not include Ecstacy, which is in the amphetamine category and is more unique to students,” he said.

The panel will not show any prescription opiates, such as Oxycodone, Percocet or Endocet.

“It doesn’t get Hydrocodone, which is the No. 1 abused prescription drug in America, and Vicodin. It does not test for those drugs,” Ramange said.

How often students are tested depends on the program the school district puts in place. Grant County tests 12 times a year, while other school districts test less frequently, he said.

The cost for the drug tests range between $21 to $22 per test. The cost can be reduced by $4 to $5 per test if the district’s school nurse collects the samples for the tests.

Ramange pointed out that Metcalfe is one of three area school districts that are not conducting random student drug testing. The other two are the Hart and Barren districts, he said.

Board Chairman Steve Thompson said the presentation gives the board something to discuss over the next several months. He anticipates gathering public input on the issue before the school board makes a decision.

“It’s just something that we kind of have to gauge as to what is going on in our schools and communities,” he said.

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