FROM THE DESK OF THE SUPERINTENDENT

 

Anabolic Steroid Testing Program Update

 

     Dr. Mark Cousins, from the University Interscholastic League – the UIL – spoke to superintendents across the Panhandle last week to provide details on the upcoming anabolic steroid testing program to be implemented at the end of February or the first of March this school year.  The steroid testing program was mandated by Senate Bill 8 and passed by the 80th Texas Legislature.  It is a statewide random testing program that will affect student-athletes in grades 9-12, regardless of sport, gender or participation level.

     It is estimated that 40,000 and 50,000 student-athletes will be tested in every sport in 600 to 800 schools by the end of the 2008-2009 school year.  With approximately 1600 public and charter schools that participate in UIL activities, Claude ISD has a 50:50 chance of being selected for the testing.

     Evidence of presence/use of an anabolic steroid will be from analysis of the student-athlete’s urine and confirmation by an approved laboratory through mass spectrometry in combination with gas chromatography, liquid chromatography or isotope mass spectrometry.  With that being said, this is how it would work.

  1. A school district is randomly selected.
  2. A list of student-athletes and the sports they participate in is sent to the testing program immediately.
  3. The testing crew shows up 1 to 2 days after the notification and tells school personnel which student-athletes have been randomly selected for testing.
  4. The student-athlete will provide a urine sample that must meet a volume, temperature, on-site specific gravity and pH requirements.
  5. The student-athlete will watch while his/her specimen is split into 2 samples (A and B) which are numbered and labeled.  No samples will contain the name of any student athlete.
  6. The samples are sent to the lab for testing. The testing takes between 5 and 7 days.
  7. If the 1st sample A is found to be positive, it is tested again.
  8. If the 1st sample A is found to be positive 2 times, a physician calls the student-athlete’s parent and asks if there is any documented medical history demonstrating the need for use of an anabolic steroid.  The parent will have 48 hours to provide the documentation to a medical review officer from the testing company.  If it is determined there is a medical exception, no further action is taken.
  9. If there is no medical exception, the second sample B is tested.
  10. If the second sample B is found to be negative, no further action is taken.
  11. If the second sample B is found to be positive, the school and the parents will be contacted and the student will be subject to penalty.
  12. There is one class of appeal for positive findings – procedural - but the student-athlete and his/her parents or the school must have hard evidence that problems with the collection and/or testing procedures materially affected the specimen’s integrity that resulted in the positive finding.
  13. Any student-athlete found to be positive for an anabolic steroid for the first time, or who refuses to submit to testing after random selection, shall be suspended for 30 school days of competition in all UIL athletic activities.  The student will have to undergo an exit test and receive a negative result before being restored to eligibility.
  14. Any student-athlete found to be positive for the second time will be suspended from all UIL athletic contests for one calendar year and undergo an exit test and receive a negative result before being restored to eligibility.
  15. Any student-athlete found to be positive for the third time will be suspended from all UIL athletic contests for the remainder of his/her high school career at any UIL member school.

     This is quite a lengthy process and here are some additional facts.  Each test is estimated to cost between $150.00 and $200.00 a piece (and the state expects to test between 40,000 and 50,000 students by the end of next school year – you do the math). The good news is that previous research on Texas high school athletes show less than 1% are reported to be users of anabolic steroids.  This mandate is funded for two school years – 07-08 and 08-09 and after that time the questions will be pertaining to will this testing be continued and who will pay for it if it is continued.        

    This is one random selection we don’t want to be drawn for.  Keep your fingers crossed on this one.

 

Respectfully Submitted,

Laura Zanchettin

Superintendent – Claude ISD

 

FROM THE DESK OF THE SUPERINTENDENT

 

Traffic Safety Study Results In - Parents Asked to Drop Students Off In Specific Areas After Spring Break

 

     Claude ISD is part of a region-wide Safe and Civil Schools Project for the second year.  As part of a needs assessment, it was determined by campus administration and concerned parents that there is a safety issue occurring before and after school as students enter and exit the buildings as they are dropped off and picked up.  A real fear exists that a child will be accidentally run over.

     In an effort to fully understand options, rules and regulations, and recommended practices pertaining to traffic issues around a school area, Claude ISD enlisted the help of Traffic Engineer Ted Abrahamson to evaluate student drop-off and pick-up practices before and after school this past November.  Mr. Abrahamson visited the school during peak drop –off and pick-up times and made recommendations for improvements to positively impact student safety.

     As the result of this study, some basic plans have are being made to improve the traffic flow around the school buildings.   High Street will be an official one-way street running from South to North and the yield sign at the intersection of High and 6th Streets will be changed to a stop sign. Additional “School Zone” signage and street markings are also planned to increase awareness. 

To increase student safety with the buses dropping off and picking up, all bus students are being discharged and picked up in the front of the Junior High School building.  Several fifth grade students have been “hired” to escort younger students to the elementary building.

     Further changes to improve student safety to begin after Spring Break of this school year include dropping off and picking up of :

- All elementary school level students in the front of the elementary school at the front doors on the one-way street (High Street). 

-  All Junior High School level students at the Northwest corner of new parking lot so that they enter the Junior HS at the computer lab portable.

-          All High School level students at the new front doors by the mustang.

       In addition to modifying where students are dropped-off and picked-up, parents are requested to get all students to exit vehicles on the passenger side of the vehicle which will prevent children from passing behind or in front of vehicles on their way to and from the school building.

       The following map shows requested drop-off and pick-up areas.

Text Box: High Streetę

 
 

Text Box: South é

 
 

 

    

 

Respectfully Submitted,

Laura Zanchettin

Superintendent – Claude ISD

 

PS to all Parents:  REMINDER - Spring Break is next week (3/17 – 3/21).  Enjoy the time with your students

 

FROM THE DESK OF THE SUPERINTENDENT

 

The University Interscholastic League has Spoken  

     Every two years, the UIL – University Interscholastic League – evaluates and realigns districts for football and basketball.  The UIL uses enrollment figures to make groupings and they make no attempt to promote or avoid age old rivalries.  For 2008-2009 and 2009-2010 school years Claude ISD will be playing District 3 eleven-man football with Bovina, Boys Ranch, Nazareth, Vega and White Deer.  For District 2 basketball, Claude will be playing Canadian, Shamrock, Wheeler and White Deer.

Golden Horseshoe Recipients Honored By the CISD Board of Trustees

     Dee Delany represented the Women’s Unity Study Group in accepting a CISD Golden Horseshoe Award for the club’s part in acquiring buckets and blankets and in helping put 50  lock-down buckets together for all classrooms and work areas.   The completion of the lock-down bucket project is a major part of the district’s crisis management plan.  The help of these community ladies is greatly appreciated. 

 

     Teacher Rebecca Yelverton (below) was recently honored by the CISD board of trustees for her work with students in the field of Civics and Social Studies.  Ms. Yelverton consistently provides innovative learning experiences for the students of Claude through field trips, inter-school associations and research, and visits from area governmental representatives. 

 

     

 

Respectfully Submitted,

Laura Zanchettin

Superintendent – Claude ISD