Pubdate: Thu, 24 May 2001
Source: Amarillo Globe-News (TX)
Copyright: 2001 Amarillo Globe-News
Contact:  http://amarillonet.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/13
Author: Jessica Raynor
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Testing)

LIBERAL SCHOOLS TO REQUIRE RANDOM TESTS FOR DRUGS

LIBERAL, Kan. - Liberal schools will require random drug tests of its 
middle and high school students in extracurricular activities 
beginning in the fall, said Kerry Roberts, superintendent of Liberal 
schools.

The Liberal Unified School District 480 school board voted Monday to 
implement the policy, which is similar to one implemented by Dumas 
Independent School District in Texas, Roberts said.

"So many schools have it," said Roberts, who added that the district 
began looking at implementing the policy two years ago. "These 
students (in extracurricular activities) are usually people that 
other kids look up to. And if it's accidentally found, it allows that 
parent to get them some help. The parent may not know."

Students in the seventh through 12th grades will be tested under the 
policy. The district, every two weeks, will randomly select 12 
students from Liberal High School and three students from each of the 
two middle schools, Roberts said.

Parents will need to sign a permission form for their children to 
participate, Roberts said. Parents' refusal to sign will forfeit 
their student's right to participate in extracurricular activities.

If a student tests positive for alcohol or narcotics in the 
urinalysis, the student will still be able to participate in 
after-school activities, but will be barred from competitions or 
public performances, Roberts said.

Two weeks later, the student will be tested again. If the test comes 
up positive again, the school can either suspend the student's 
extracurricular activities for a calender year or allow the student 
to participate on the condition he or she takes a drug test and tests 
negative each month for a year, Roberts said.

"This policy is not disciplinary or punitive in nature," Roberts 
said, reading from the policy.

Several school districts across the area test their extracurricular 
students on a regular basis. Both Woodward, Okla. and Guymon, Okla. 
have drug testing policies, Roberts said.

Lockney ISD in Texas had to radically change its mandatory, 
suspicion-less, drug testing policy of all students after a federal 
judge ruled it unconstitutional. One of the conditions in the 
settlement of that case required the district to make drug testing 
voluntary and based on suspicion, according to court documents.

Tulia ISD, also in Texas, is appealing a court decision against the 
district's drug-testing policy. On Nov. 30, U.S. District Judge Mary 
Lou Robinson in Amarillo ruled in favor of Hollister Gardner and his 
cousins, Molly and Colby, who filed lawsuits in January 1997 to 
protest the school district's "mandatory, suspicion-less" drug 
testing policy of students involved in extracurricular activities.

Roberts said he hopes to avoid any court problems.

"We had the policy looked at very carefully through the school 
district attorney to make certain that what could be done was legal," 
Roberts said.
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MAP posted-by: Josh Sutcliffe