By NORMA A. AGUILAR, Staff Writer
Thursday, March 16, 2006 2:40 PM PST
Printed courtesy of Imperial Valley Press, El Centro, CA

The prospect of a non-punitive student drug-testing program was presented to the Central Union High School Board of Trustees on Tuesday. If the El Centro district decides to participate, it would be part of a Valley-wide consortium of school districts participating in the program.

George Miranda, a program specialist for the Department of Student Well-Being and Family Resources at the Imperial County Office of Education, said the program is implemented as part of a comprehensive program, meaning it ties in with other drug and alcohol programs of the ICOE such as student assistance and Friday Night Live, which are already in place at most Valley high schools.

The drug program places an emphasis on prevention, intervention and providing resources for users. The testing would be done on students participating in extracurricular activities and sports through a five-panel urine sample that tests for marijuana, cocaine, opiates methamphetamines and benzodiazepines, which are classified as depressants.

Trustee Efrain Silva asked if the program provides testing for steroids and was told while the program could be expanded to include such testing, federal funding would not cover the cost. Miranda emphasized the idea of the program is to provide help for students, not punishment, and it is not to be used for referrals to law enforcement or expulsions from schools.

When Silva asked if students have a right to refuse to be tested, Miranda replied: “It depends on the board policy designated by each district school board. We would work with you in developing the program, starting with an initial community focus group and development of board policies.”

Trustee Steve Walker expressed concern whether the program misses other target populations by only testing students involved in sports and other extracurricular activities. He said while he is not naïve about drug use it would not be prevalent among those groups.

“Not these kinds of kids,” Walker said.

Miranda responded that while the question has been raised before, he said the program’s target population is one that is often overlooked.

“There is one thing that is effective and that is peer pressure. This test helps students as an excuse not to use,” Miranda said.

Walker asked for the audience’s opinion on the proposed program.

Said Joe Evangelist, principal at Southwest High School: “It is true that peer pressure is effective. Hopefully the program could grow to include the majority of the student population. I think it’s a very healthy thing. I think we would be sadly shocked as to the availability of drugs on campuses.”

In the end, the central board agreed to initiate a community focus group to see if residents are receptive to the program.


Staff writer Norma A. Aguilar can be reached at naguilar@ivpressonline.com or 33-3452.