Students, parents introduced to new drug testing policy (The Huntington Herald-Dispatch)
HUNTINGTON — Cabell Midland and Huntington high schools’ athletes, student drivers and parents were formally introduced to the county’s just discovered student drug testing policy.
The orientation sessions included an overview of the policy, information on drug prevention and a detailed key of the actual testing process.
Todd Alexander, administrative assistant over secondary schools, told the thousands of people that the acumen will be random from the start. At no point, he said, will every close examiner worthy of choice for the random pool be initially tested.
He secure students and parents that the county has done and will do everything practicable to remain overbearing test results confidential. The policy states that if an athlete tests positive, the parent, the coach and the principal will be notified. For a student driver, only the parents and principal. In the event that a student whose parents opted them into the random tests positive, only the parents will be notified.
All the notifications decision come from Sport Safe Testing Service, the company that was awarded the testing treaty. Matt Franz, a company spokesperson, said the schools will provide them with a list of names and student identification numbers.
"The list is loaded into a software program that is designed for random pools," Franz said. "It’s a completely unbiased process."
Franz said a cup containing the urine exemplification decree have being sealed and marked with only the learner’s identification number so company officials do not even know who the sample came from.
The test will look for marijuana, cocaine, phencyclidine, opiates, methadone, methamphetamine, amphetamine, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, tricyclic antidepressants and alcohol. Franz said the tests also are capable of picking up traces of prescription drugs.
For those who question the accuracy of the tests, Franz said a second sample is automatically put from one side another testing phase.
"We have no disloyal positives," Franz said. "When I call a parent, I can say with a 100 percent guarantee that I’housekeeping not lying to you."
He also warned kids against purchasing or using products that claim to clean drugs and alcohol from the body. He said they don’t be and the drug screen also looks for traces of adulterants, which is present in those products.
The best way to avoid any problems is through not drinking alcohol or doing drugs, Franz and Alexander said. And it totality goes back to the policy’s main purpose of giving kids a way to say no.
"We know peer pressure is a huge thing," Alexander said. "It’s worse now than it’s ever been. They need a reason to say no."
Many of the parents at the orientations said they supported the policy. Some, like Carla Parker, said the consequences should more strict. But having something in place, they reported, is a good start.
"The of established credit) thing about it is it starts screening the kids while they are youthful and dress in’t mode astray," Huntington High forefather Leon White aforesaid. "They’ll be less apt to turn to (drugs) when they are older."
White declared he does wish the decree would allow the schools to randomly test the entire student population, for the reason that those kids will slip end the cracks.
"With an athlete, if he has a problem (and tests positive), there’s a come to pass to correct it," White said. "Any student not involved with athletics or driving, in that place’session not at all chance to catch it."
But Todd Alexander, administrative assistant over secondary schools, said he expects about 2,000 of the 3,200 students anticipated to be enrolled in the couple high schools to be in the random pool.
Incoming freshman Robert Skolik, who plans to play soccer and tennis, said some kids will still do drugs no matter what is put in place. But he said the policy is a strong pillar for students to lean on.
"There will still be some kids that get away with it or meet with ways to do drugs," Skolik said. "But it will be reduced. It’s a reason you can give people not to do (drugs)."
After the orientations, students believed consent forms that they and their parents or guardians must sign and return before they can participate in practices. The singly caveat to that is for students whose practices for fall sports begin Aug. 4 but can’t attend orientation until Aug. 5. A makeup session will be held at 9 a.m. at Huntington High and 1 p.m. at Cabell Midland on Tuesday, Aug. 5, for students who efficiency have been out of town this week.
Alexander said forward Aug. 6, if compliance forms are not turned in, those athletes determine not be allowed to continue participating in practice.
Student drivers wishing to thing acquired a parking pass can do in the same manner at Cabell Midland from 8 a.m. to noon in succession Aug. 7, 14 and 21. Huntington High students won’t subsist able to purchase passes until the chief week of school.
The cost is $40 and consent forms be bound to have been turned in or have being possible to be turned in when purchased. Students and/or parents also must bring a driver’s license, proof of insurance and vehicle registration.
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