The Amador County Unified School District Board of Trustees recently conducted a first reading of a proposed drug testing policy for Amador’s high schoolers.  The purpose of the drug testing policy is to help prevent student athletes from using drugs, to help protect students’ heath and safety, to provide drug abusers with the appropriate assistance, and to preserve and maintain a positive learning environment.  The issue was brought to the district’s attention a few years ago by high school coaches who felt drugs were becoming a problem. Steve Goggans, the head football coach at Amador High School, says that drugs are “prevalent” in all high schools and their main concern was that a student under the influence while involved in a sports activity is a “safety issue.” 

Mike Carey, Amador’s Superintendent of Schools, says that he spoke to “about two dozen students” and “they thought it was a good idea.”  Carey says that he and the district “were struck by their candor and honesty.”  Indeed, many other local residents feel the same.  One Pine Grove mother whose son is starting high school this fall and will be involved in sports, is in support of the new policy.  She says that “if they are going to do drugs, they deserve to get caught.” Others felt that kids in extracurricular activities shouldn’t be singled out, and that if the school is going to implement a drug testing policy, it should include all students. In response to that, Goggans says that sports are “not compulsory” like school is, but a privelege,” a sentiment that is shared by the school district. One father of two high schoolers believes that teachers and staff should be held to the same standards as students. The proposed policy will under go a second reading at the next school board meeting tonight at 5:30 at the County Administration building in Jackson.