Students speak out on drug testing
BY DAN PARKER SOUTH JETTY REPORTER

STAFF PHOTO BY DAN PARKER Affected athletics The Port Aransas High School Marlins baseball team plays a game against Woodsboro High School's team at Port Aransas Community Park on Tuesday, April 1. If a proposed voluntary drug-testing program is created, PAHS students could be suspended from athletics if they test positive for illegal drugs.

Port Aransas High School students have varied opinions about whether the school board should create a drugtesting program for students.

Some students support the idea. Others don't.

The Port Aransas Independent School District Board of Trustees has been talking for months about the possibility of establishing a drug-testing program.

On March 13, trustees directed Superintendent Billy Wiggins to put together a plan for establishing a voluntary drug-testing and reinvigorating the district's Student Health Advisory Committee. Wiggins said he expects trustees to hold a formal vote by midsummer on whether to establish the program he recommends.

Wiggins said students would be tested only if their parents approve of it in writing. He said the plan would not include punishment but would seek help including counseling for students who test positive.

Students involved in athletics likely would be suspended from those activities if they test positive, Wiggins said. That wouldn't be for punishment but to prevent students from suffering health problems from a combination of drugs and physical exertion, he said.

Results of drug tests would not be revealed publicly, according to school officials.

Kelsey Cartwright, a sophomore at PAHS, said she is opposed to the proposed program. If a student isn't ready to admit drug use but is exposed through a drug test, that student's problem could become worse due to anger and resentment, she said.

"If you have a problem, you should come out with it on your own," Cartwright said. "You should feel comfortable with it coming out and not be forced to reveal it."

Kristy Hoffman, a junior, said she favors drug testing.

"It would help kids out a lot if we had something that would help them stay off that stuff," Hoffman said.

Some students said they oppose a drug-testing program because they view it as an unwarranted invasion of privacy.

Abby Kenigsberg is against the proposed program because, she said, it shouldn't be the responsibility of a school to keep students off drugs, she said.

"I just think it's your parent's job to take care of situations like that," said Abby, a sophomore.

Brittney Wedel said she favors a drug-testing program because it could deter drug use.

"It'll keep kids active and not getting into drugs," said Wedel, a junior. "Maybe they'll be afraid of … being kicked out of athletics."

Nestor Angel, a freshman, said a drug-testing program would be a good idea.

"They could help students who could be risking their lives, damaging their brains," Angel said.

Nick Lantz, a freshman, said a drug-testing program could be bad for the reputation of PAHS if people think the high school is creating the program as a result of a big drug problem. But it could end up being good for the reputation of PAHS if drug tests end up revealing that few students are doing drugs.

Chloe Tugwell said she doesn't think a voluntary drug-testing program will make much difference at PAHS. Most parents seeking drug tests for their children probably already know that their children likely are doing drugs, Tugwell said. If they suspect it, they can alert school officials, and the children can get counseling without drug testing ever becoming part of the equation, she said.