Burbank Schools Seek Donations for Drug Testing
Burbank Unified School District officials are attempting to raise enough money to implement a voluntary drug-testing program for high school athletes this fall.
Charles Rowitz, director of secondary education for the district, is appealing to several Burbank service clubs to donate money to the program, expected to cost $9,000 for Burroughs and Burbank high schools, the district’s two high schools.
Athletes from the two schools would voluntarily place their names on a list from which up to 10 students a week would be randomly picked to be tested, Rowitz said.
Results of the tests would be reported to the athletes’ parents, not to school officials, Rowitz said.
The purpose of the program, he said, is to give athletes an excuse to friends who try to persuade them to drink or take drugs.
The district board approved the program last week in a 4-0 vote.
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