MISD to take part in pilot steroid education program, By: Ruth Campbell
10/20/2006
Gov. David Dewhurst also calling for mandatory random testing of Texas public high school athletes for performance-enhancing drugs.
The University Interscholastic League plans to have 21 school districts statewide, including Midland Independent School District, participate in a pilot program to educate students, parents and coaches about the pitfalls of steroid use, MISD Superintendent Robert Nicks said.
Districts tapped are part of the UIL Legislative Council. The program, announced during a UIL meeting in Austin last weekend, will be funded with a $500,000 Texas Education Agency grant to a nonprofit corporation affiliated with Texas Association of School Administrators, Nicks said.
UIL Medical Advisory Committee member and Midland High School athletic trainer William "Hondo" Schneider said the program will be called STAR Sportsmanship, from Learning Through Sports. STAR Sportsmanship is an educational publisher of interactive sports games.
It was developed in conjunction with National Federation of High Schools, Drug Enforcement Administration and National Institute on Drug Abuse. It is up to local school districts as to when the program will start, UIL Director of Public Information Kim Rogers said.
Rogers said her understanding is it will be similar to a video game and have different levels for different grades.
"We felt like education was a way to show them (students) how to make good decisions and good choices rather than trying to being reactive," Rogers said.
Meanwhile, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst called Thursday for mandatory random testing of Texas public high school athletes for performance-enhancing drugs. Dewhurst offered few details of his plan. He said he would work with the University Interscholastic League to determine when students would be tested and the consequences for a positive test.
Dewhurst said he would ask the Legislature to pay for the tests, which he said would cost about $100 each, the Associated Press reported.
House Speaker Tom Craddick, R-Midland, said the steroid issue is a top priority.
"I think the issue of student athletes taking drugs to improve performance is a critical one. Not only are many of these drugs illegal, but they are also an extreme health hazard. Our children are our future. I strongly support keeping our students healthy and safe, and our competitions clean," Craddick said in a statement.
Nicks said the district has not gotten all its information on the pilot steroid education program yet.
"Information has not been received by participating school districts as of yet, but during next two weeks we hope to receive materials and information from the Texas Association of School Administrators about a Web-based program that will be made available. It will be required of all athletes and coaches and we will be asking parents to participate as well," Nicks said.
Schneider said the district has already taken a proactive approach by sending home student-parent agreement forms that the student will not use steroids.
He added education will be the key to preventing steroid abuse.
Schneider said the UIL Medical Advisory Committee has discussed steroid testing, but results of a survey they conducted and a consensus opinion is bigger problems statewide and nationally are crack cocaine, heroin and marijuana.
"Steroids just get the attention," he said, adding he does not know any child here who has used anabolic steroids.
He said there's no doubt steroids can cause "very serious problems down the road," especially because the steroids youngsters are getting are from the black market.
"Drug testing has proven to be a great deterrent. Whether or not MISD twill go to that in the future, I haven't had that discussion with anyone," Schneider said.
