CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Cost could be the biggest roadblock to a drug-testing policy for student-athletes in Kanawha County schools.

Cabell County will institute random drug tests beginning this school year for high school students who plan to participate in any sport in 2008-09. The county, West Virginia's third most populous behind Kanawha and Berkeley counties, has scheduled orientation for prospective student-athletes and their parents for July 30.

Todd Alexander, Cabell County Schools' Administrative Assistant of Secondary Education, said Monday that the expected cost of its program for the coming school year will be roughly $30,000.

Members of the Kanawha County Board of Education estimate the cost of running such a program in the Charleston area would be exponentially greater.

"I don't know that we could afford it," said Board President Becky Jordon. "Our heating bills, gas bills and everything are so much and now we're having to pay $2.5 million for PEIA (Public Employees Insurance Agency). It just might not be something we could do right now.

"If there wasn't the cost involved, it's definitely something we would be willing to look at."

Cabell County has only two public high schools, and both rank among the state's 10 largest. Cabell Midland is the largest school in the state with 1,840 total students. Midland, which trails only Parkersburg High in enrollment among its top three classes, has 40 more total students than Parkersburg.

Huntington High is the state's seventh-largest school with a total enrollment of 1,602 students, giving that county 3,442 at its two high schools.

Kanawha County's eight public high schools have at least 7,773 students. Total enrollments for Nitro and Herbert Hoover were unavailable, although each school's top three grades were counted for the purpose of Secondary School Activities Commission classification purposes.

The largest high school in Kanawha County is Capital, with 1,350 students. Sissonville is the smallest with 640.

"We're talking about an additional $70,000 to $80,000 than what (Cabell County is) going to pay to do that," said board member Jim Crawford, who coached high school sports for 38 years at St. Albans. "Cabell County has a total of eight secondary schools including their middle schools. We've got 21 here."

Jackson County is said to also be in the process of implementing a drug-testing plan for student-athletes. Several other counties, including Braxton - it provided Cabell County with its testing model -- and Logan also have programs in place.

Alexander said his school system had 36 expulsion hearings for drug-related infractions in  the 2007-08 school year. The county's zero-tolerance policy toward drug use could account for the greater number of expulsions than other counties with similar populations.

"We have somewhat of a drug problem here in Huntington and the Board (of Education) and the central office both thought it was good to give the kids another reason to say no and stand up to peer pressure," Alexander said.

Cabell County will institute random drug tests beginning this school year for high school students who plan to participate in any sport in 2008-09. The county, West Virginia's third most populous behind Kanawha and Berkeley counties, has scheduled orientation for prospective student-athletes and their parents for July 30.

Todd Alexander, Cabell County Schools' Administrative Assistant of Secondary Education, said Monday that the expected cost of its program for the coming school year will be roughly $30,000.

Members of the Kanawha County Board of Education estimate the cost of running such a program in the Charleston area would be exponentially greater.

"I don't know that we could afford it," said Board President Becky Jordon. "Our heating bills, gas bills and everything are so much and now we're having to pay $2.5 million for PEIA (Public Employees Insurance Agency). It just might not be something we could do right now.

"If there wasn't the cost involved, it's definitely something we would be willing to look at."

Cabell County has only two public high schools, and both rank among the state's 10 largest. Cabell Midland is the largest school in the state with 1,840 total students. Midland, which trails only Parkersburg High in enrollment among its top three classes, has 40 more total students than Parkersburg.

Huntington High is the state's seventh-largest school with a total enrollment of 1,602 students, giving that county 3,442 at its two high schools.

Kanawha County's eight public high schools have at least 7,773 students. Total enrollments for Nitro and Herbert Hoover were unavailable, although each school's top three grades were counted for the purpose of Secondary School Activities Commission classification purposes.

The largest high school in Kanawha County is Capital, with 1,350 students. Sissonville is the smallest with 640.

"We're talking about an additional $70,000 to $80,000 than what (Cabell County is) going to pay to do that," said board member Jim Crawford, who coached high school sports for 38 years at St. Albans. "Cabell County has a total of eight secondary schools including their middle schools. We've got 21 here."

Jackson County is said to also be in the process of implementing a drug-testing plan for student-athletes. Several other counties, including Braxton - it provided Cabell County with its testing model -- and Logan also have programs in place.

Alexander said his school system had 36 expulsion hearings for drug-related infractions in  the 2007-08 school year. The county's zero-tolerance policy toward drug use could account for the greater number of expulsions than other counties with similar populations.

"We have somewhat of a drug problem here in Huntington and the Board (of Education) and the central office both thought it was good to give the kids another reason to say no and stand up to peer pressure," Alexander said.

The Cabell County program will test for both performance-enchancing and recreational drugs, Alexander said. However, a heavier focus will be on halting the use of drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, amphetamines and depressants.

 "The tests for the performance-enhancing drugs are considerably more expensive, so we'll do that from time to time," Alexander said. "Mostly we've got to concentrate on recreational drugs, though."

Cabell County also will apply its program to students who drive to school.

Crawford said he didn't feel performance-enhancing drugs were a problem in Kanawha County, but said testing was a good idea if it weren't for the cost involved.

"In all my time coaching I had one kid that wrestled for me and I knew he was using steroids," Crawford said. "I kicked him off the team, not to punish him but because I didn't want to be responsible for something bad happening to him on the mat."

Overall, Crawford said he didn't feel that drug use was rampant among student-athletes.

"I just don't think it's that big of a problem. We've got more of a problem with alcohol in our schools than with drugs, I'd think," he said.

Alexander stressed that the program is not intended to punish student-athletes but rather to inform parents of their children's activity in order to best manage the rigors of adolescence. A first failed test under the Cabell system will result in the student-athlete being forced to undergo counseling before returning to the team.

A second offense would force that student to undergo a suspension of 14 calendar days from his or her team and to complete a substance abuse rehabilitation program before returning to the team. A third offense would result in a one-year suspension from athletic activity.

Kanawha County Schools instituted a drug-testing policy for various employees in December. That policy tests anyone who drives a county-owned vehicle, itinerate personnel, members of the maintenance department, nurses and any employee that dispenses medications.

Crawford said the Kanawha County focus will likely remain on personnel for the immediate future. However, Jordon said that although nothing is on the forthcoming agenda concerning such a program, the board likely would be looking that way soon.

"As president of the board I wouldn't mind doing that," Jordon said. "It's part of the Safe Schools program we keep trying to add to and that would be a great way to make our schools a better place."

--Contact sportswriter Derek Taylor at derek.tay...@dailymail.com or 348-5170.