Pubdate: Tue, 09 Jan 2001
Source: Journal Gazette (IN)
Copyright: 2001 Journal Gazette
Contact:  600 W. Main Street, Ft. Wayne, IN. 46802
Fax: (219) 461-8648
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Author: Joyce McCartney

WEST NOBLE SCHOOLS DRAFT DRUG-TEST POLICY

LIGONIER - West Noble School Corp. could have a drug testing policy in 
place at the end of the month if board members approve a reasonable 
suspicion testing policy at their next meeting.

Superintendent Bruce Hippensteel on Monday reviewed a draft of the policy 
with board members.

The school corporation had a random testing policy ready in the fall, but 
an August ruling by the Indiana Court of Appeals suspended that policy, 
Hippensteel said.

The court threw out a random drug-testing policy in Kokomo.West Noble 
suspended its own random testing policy and began exploring a policy that 
would require the testing of any student, not just athletes, that school 
officials suspected of being under the influence of drugs or alcohol, 
Hippensteel said.

The board's attorney reviewed the policy and changed some language to give 
school officials more flexibility in enforcing the policy.

Board members agreed Monday night not to eliminate elementary school 
students from the policy.

Hippensteel told board members a final version will be ready for a vote Jan. 22.
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