Pubdate: Mon, 1 Jul 2002 Source: Effingham Daily News (IL) Contact: 2002, Effingham Daily News Website: http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?brd=991 Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2281 Author: Cathy Thoele, Daily News Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Testing) AFTER COURT DECISION, UNIT 40 WILL PURSUE DRUG TESTING POLICY A recent U.S. Supreme Court decision expanding drug testing in schools will have the Unit 40 Board of Education considering a similar policy. In a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court ruled school officials can give random drug tests to any students who participate in extracurricular activities, and not just student athletes as previously allowed. While Unit 40 currently does not conduct drug tests, Superintendent Dr. Don Roberts said, the board will certainly be considering in the near future implementing a drug testing policy. Over the last five years, the issue has been brought up a few times at school board meetings, but the board has been waiting for the Supreme Court decision before deciding the issue themselves. Roberts predicts a lot of school districts will now be taking a look at the issue since the decision, which he believes is a good one. "It gives schools another tool to fight against students bringing drugs into schools," he said. "If it will deter students from using drugs, it's worthwhile." However, Roberts believes such a policy probably won't stop drug use in schools. "It's a social issue, not a school issue," he said. The district is currently putting together a countywide task force to combat the growing problem of drug use in Effingham County schools. A problem that Roberts said is not limited to this area. "It's obvious that all schools have a problem with drug use," he said, emphasizing the problem goes beyond schools. "It's also a community problem and we need to do everything we can to stop it." - --- MAP posted-by: Doc-Hawk