Coudersport students face drug testing

Musicians, athletes and other students participating in extracurricular activities at Coudersport High School will be subjected to drug testing in the coming school year.

A meeting for parents of affected students has been called for 6:00 Monday evening at the high school auditorium. Athletic Director John Merrick will discuss the district's policies and requirements for athletic participation. A representative from the company contracted to conduct the tests will also be on hand to answer questions about procedures, confidentiality and other aspects of the testing process.

Members of the Coudersport Area Board of Education passed the Student Drug Testing Policy for "activity students." According to Sean Reams, vice principal at the high school, this includes all students grades 7-12 who participate in interscholastic sports or extracurricular activities, such as musical and academic activities of schoolaffiliated clubs.

Federal funds were awarded to the school district to help defray the costs of the program.

"An activity student is a representative of the school district and the community-atlarge and the district recognizes them as role models for other students who frequently model their own conduct on examples set by those students," according to the new policy. "Thus, when an activity student chooses to participate in activities, he or she has also chosen to accept to be a role model, and with that choice comes the responsibility of living a drug and alcohol free lifestyle."

"The district recognizes that drugs and alcohol have a serious and deleterious effect on motivation, memory, judgment, reaction time, coordination, and performance, and that continued or long-term usage of these substances can compound these problems and affect the user academically, physically, and emotionally."

No recording of test results will be placed on any student's transcript or any other permanent record.

Urine tests will be conducted randomly, with no prior notice given.

Sanctions for those who test positive for alcohol, marijuana or other prohibited drugs will include an immediate 14-day suspension from extracurricular activities. Parents or guardians will be notified and the violator will be referred for evaluation and counseling.

Repeat offenders will get an eight-week suspension and be required to undergo drug and alcohol counseling at their own expense.