Sabine implements drug testing
By BRENDA ALLUMS news1@kilgorenewsherald.com

LIBERTY CITY -When Sabine High School implemented random drug testing last fall it was more for awareness than discipline.

Apparently, the program is successful.

“We’ve had (one) positive result and we referred that student to counseling,” Phillip Works, SHS assistant principal, said.

The one positive came from two series of tests that involved about 75 students.

Works said the school board developed a policy that would give students another reason for not abusing substances.

“It’s not a discipline program,” Works said. “It’s a program to encourage students not to participate in substance abuse.”

The program was implemented in August last year, and since that time two random tests have been conducted.

“We want to conduct a test during football season,” Works said. “But most of the students were in the pool from which those being tested were taken.”

The second test was conducted during the “winter sports” (basketball, etc.) period. The school has contracted for five tests this year, but Works doesn’t know if all of the remaining three will be used.

“The plan is not to go through any large sport season without a test,” he said.

Names of all SHS students involved in athletics, extracurricular activities and campus clubs are forwarded to a firm that draws the students’ names randomly.

The SISD school board expanded its policy to include any student wishing to have driving privileges on campus.

“That covers just about all of our kids,” Works said.

He noted that of the 400-plus students, most were involved in athletics, campus organizations and other extracurricular activities or had jobs requiring they have transportation. Testing dates are selected randomly, as well.

“The superintendent determines the appropriate date, but I’m the only one with the details as to time and who,” Works said.

The first test included 50 students, while the second 25.

“We expect that the first testing of the year will always be the largest,” Works said. “After that, the testing groups will be smaller.”

The testing is conducted by Drug and Alcohol testing of East Texas.

“Two nurses -a male and a female -come to the school and those (students) being tested are taken to an area in the athletic center,” Works said.

The assistant principal said he was put in charge of the program to avoid conflicts of interest.

“The principal, as chief disciplinarian, and athletic director want to keep the program free from conflicts of interest,” he said.

Works said,” At first the kids were leery of the situation ... the first screening was a test for all of us to see if the program worked properly.”

He said the students “thought it was kind of routine” by the second testing.

“The kids seem to be comfortable with the test,” he said. “Again, this program is used to discourage the use of illegal substances and help them make the right choices.”

Works stressed the school board enacted this policy as a deterrent, not a punishment.

“So far, we think it’s working,” he said.