While the funding for St. Clair County’s School-Based Drug Testing (SBDT) program will reach its end next month, the program seems to have made an impact during its three-year tenure.

Dr. Priscilla Wilson, project coordinator/counselor for the SBDT program, held an informational meeting Tuesday night to inform members of the community about the program and its future.

During the school year, students in seventh through 12th grade who participate in sports or other extracurricular activities with a competitive aspect are required to participate in the program.

“The program is controversial, because some people consider it a violation a human rights,” said Charity Richey-Bentley, the project director for SBDT. “However, the Supreme Court ruled that extracurricular programs are considered a privilege and not a right, so it’s considered search and seizure.”

With the help of a random number generator, approximately 298 students are chosen from the 10 eligible schools in the district to be tested. The program uses an oral testing device, which is placed between the cheek and gums to absorb saliva. Students only know they’re being tested 10 to 15 minutes before they actually take the test, which reduces the likelihood of  tampering.

During eight test events which have taken place so far this school year, there have been a total of 13 positive tests out of 2,501 students tested. Two tests were considered positive after being tampered with, while all the rest of the tests were positive for THC, the active ingredient in marijuana.

During the first year of testing, 18 students tested positive, with 17 positives the following year. She estimated that numbers would stay about the same this year, noting that there have been only two positives since January.

When a student tests positive, Wilson said the parents and principal are involved in getting the student back on the right track.

“We don’t take punitive steps. We don’t contact law enforcement, but they must take steps before they can participate in their activity again,” she said.

Students are banned from their activity for 30 active days. “If a football player tested positive now, the 30 days would take place once football season starts,” she explained.

Students are also required to go through six counseling sessions, which are normally scheduled with a parent and take place at the student’s school. Students are also required to have a medical exam and a negative drug test, both with proper documentation, before they’re allowed to participate once again.

Overall, audience reaction showed that the program has been a good one.

“There’s a spectrum of kids that on one end, will never do drugs or drink. The other end has kids who are just going to do it. This program gives those kids in the middle ground, the followers, an excuse not to do it,” said Circuit Court Judge Phil Seay, who attended the meeting as a member of the audience.

“I feel like the presence [of SBDT] has been a positive thing in the school district,” said Judy Sampley, who works in the school district.

The school system was given a $600,000 grant, which funded the program entirely for three years, after previous funding dwindled. St. Clair County was in the last batch of districts to be funded, and without another source of money, the testing will end this May.

Richey-Bentley said Blount County received the same grant one year before St. Clair did, and while a community organization provided some funding to keep the program alive, it’s testing a fraction of the students it was before.

The SBDT program will host a program evaluation team meeting at 10 a.m. April 12 at The Bridge in Ashville, 474 10th St. S., in the trailer behind Ruben Yancy Alternative School. Anyone interested in more information on the program is invited to attend.