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Florence High mulls drug tests for some students
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More than 400 students attending Florence High School could be randomly tested for drugs next school year, under a policy the school board is discussing. The proposal comes from Mike Crymble, the district's director of athletics. He said he's researched schools nationwide and in the area.
He is proposing random drug testing that would be used on any student who takes part in sports or any other group that competes in the Arizona Interscholastic Association - including the marching band.
Students under the proposal could still take elective classes, such as orchestra or marching band, but exclude themselves from the testing if they don't take part in competition, Crymble said.
He said the key is to give students an "out" when offered drugs: They could say no because they could be randomly drug-tested.
More and more districts in the nation are testing students beyond just athletes, though area districts that already conduct random drug testing, including Chandler and Queen Creek unified school districts, test only athletes.
"It's been something we've looked at for many years and talked about doing," he said. "I had some students I talked to about this - they liked the idea. This gives them a valuable excuse (to turn down drugs)."
If approved by the school board, a Tucson company would conduct the testing, selecting students by random.
The school has nearly 1,500 students, and as many as a third could be tested under the proposal.
Any students who test positive will be given two choices during their first offense: Eight weeks of not participating in sports or activities, or four weeks of not participating and taking part in a drug treatment program.
Additional specifics are still under review by the district.
School district spokesman Larry Cline said the board could vote on the proposal by July or August. Students selected to participate would be given a urinalysis to test for specific drugs.
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