Drug Tests Added To Lc Drills School Board Approves Testing Student Football Players This Fall

Drug tests will be as routine as practice and games for Lewis and Clark High School football players this fall.

The Spokane School Board approved a plan Wednesday that makes the downtown school the first in the area to test athletes for drugs.

The only players to escape testing are those whose parents sign waivers at the beginning of the season.

Drugs have been a problem among Lewis and Clark players in the past, said two players who hope the tests will help their team win more games.

“It made some feel like they’ll have to clean up their act,” said senior Brian Agnew, a varsity player. “Some of them had to.”

“There’s some people who could use some help in that area,” agreed varsity player Jeff Wood, 17.

Football Coach John Hook laughed when asked if coaches will take drug tests, too.

“It hasn’t come up as a major concern in our school,” he said.

School board member Rob Fukai applauded LC team members who first asked coaches to start a drug testing program, something they may face some day as employees.

“This is preparing you for real life later on,” Fukai said.

While board members approved LC’s plan, they haven’t considered drug testing for all athletes at all schools.

At Lewis and Clark, three student-athletes will be chosen randomly for urinalysis each week. They’ll be screened for marijuana, cocaine, opiates, PCP and methamphetamine.

The tests will be conducted at Deaconess Medical Center, which is paying for the $1,000 program, according to hospital spokeswoman Priscilla Gilkey.

Health workers will use a computer to pick athletes for testing during the 8-week season.

Some parents may want to opt out of the program because of religious or civil rights reasons, school officials said.

Deena Glotfelty, whose son Cody is a varsity player, said she hopes all parents go along with the program. She suspects some won’t.

“I think they’re afraid to find out if their child is doing drugs,” she said. “If my son is one of those who doesn’t get to play, that’s what happens.”

The first time a player tests positive, he must skip games until he has completed a drug treatment and counseling program, said Allan Bredy, LC activities director.

Anyone failing twice will be suspended from the team for the season.

Results of the tests, set to begin Sept. 16, won’t be turned over to law enforcement, according to the plan.

Area school officials watched the board’s decision with interest - some wondering whether their athletes will now request testing, too.

“If it came from parents and students, we’d be more likely to implement something, rather than if it came top down from us,” said Randy Ryan, assistant principal at Shadle Park High School.

“We’re sensitive to privacy issues,” he said.

At East Valley High School, Assistant Principal Ray Stookey said he’ll raise the issue this fall with a group of parents and students.

“It’s not something we’d like to mandate, but I think our community would probably support something on a voluntary basis,” he said.

The Lewis and Clark athletes said they first proposed the idea at a barbecue this summer, concerned that drug use was hurting the team’s performance.

“Most of the kids on the team are for it,” said Wood, a senior. “This is our last year, and we want the team to be the best possible.”

, DataTimes