Schools Will Double Random Drug Tests

LAKELAND | The Polk County School District learned Wednesday it will receive nearly $200,000 in federal grant money that will allow it to double the number of students randomly tested for drugs.

About 4,500 students are now randomly tested and that will increase to 9,000.

And the district will expand the testing to include more than athletes. Other extracurricular groups, such as Future Farmers of America and Future Business Leaders of America, will now be included.

The one-year grant is for $196,571 and the district can apply for a similar grant for two more years. Polk was one of 49 school districts throughout the nation to receive money.

Audrey Kelley-Fritz, senior manager of prevention, health and wellness for Polk schools, said she was excited at the news but was still waiting for formal confirmation from the federal government.

Student drug testing began in 2004. The method used to test students is through an examination of urine. Each year about 30 to 40 students test positive for illegal drugs. The district doesn't test for steroid use because of the additional expense it would require.

Students who test positive for drugs go to the Mark Wilcox Center in Winter Haven for evaluation. The positive results do not affect a student's record at school and they are not disciplined, Kelley-Fritz said.

This year, about 30 students tested positive. Usually, a few test positive for cocaine or alcohol, but all 30 this year tested positive for marijuana, Kelley-Fritz said.

Marijuana is the most common drug found because it stays in the system the longest, Kelley-Fritz said.

Officials say the testing has worked. Marijuana usage rate for athletes has declined 17 percent since 2004, according the District's Web site.

Each test costs about $18 per student. If a student tests positive, a confirmation test is conducted for about $50. Many confirmation tests determine that the students tested positive for drugs that are prescribed to them. Those tests are discarded.

Nationally, a total of $5.8 million in grants was given for drug testing.

[ John Chambliss can be reached at john.chambliss@theledger.com or 863-802-7588.]