Clyde-Green Springs board orders drug tests for athletes

5/23/2007

CLYDE, Ohio - Clyde-Green Springs students who want to participate in athletics or other extracurricular activities after Aug. 1 will be subject to random drug testing.

The Clyde-Green Springs Board of Education voted Monday to implement the drug-testing policy for students in grades 7-12, Assistant Superintendent Gregg Elchert said.

Students who drive to school and park on school grounds also will be subject to the testing, which will be administered randomly several times a month throughout the year.

Twelve to 15 students will be tested for a variety of substances each time, Mr. Elchert said. He said the new policy will affect between 80 percent and 85 percent of the district's about 780 high school students.

Those who test positive will face consequences. On the first offense, if a student and a parent agree to a professional drug assessment, a student would be required to sit out 20 percent of the season. For example, for football season, which typically involves about 10 games, a student would need to sit out two games.

A second offense would bar a student from participating in any extracurricular activity for one calendar year.

In other action, the school board voted to ask the Sandusky County Board of Elections to place a 1.5-mill, five-year replacement levy for permanent capital improvements on the Aug. 7 ballot.

Voters defeated the same issue by a narrow vote during the special election May 8.

If replaced, the levy would raise $306,000 annually for the district, which extends into Seneca County. It would cost the owners of a $100,000 home just under $46 a year.