Pubdate: Tue, 16 Jul 2002
Source: Shawnee News-Star (OK)
Copyright: 2002 The Shawnee News-Star
Contact:  http://www.onlineshawnee.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/412
Author: Jennifer Pitts, Sns Staff Writer
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Testing)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

SCHOOL BOARD REINSTATES DRUG TESTING POLICY

The Tecumseh School Board voted Monday night to reinstate Tecumseh school's 
random drug testing policy, with the exception of the initial drug 
testing.    After nearly a three-year struggle and one U.S. Supreme Court 
decision, the Tecumseh School Board voted unanimously to reinstate the 
school's Activity Student Drug Testing Policy Monday evening.

The reinstatement comes less than three weeks after the board received word 
that the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the schools drug testing policy by a 
vote of 5-4.

Monday evening the board voted to convene to executive session for the 
purpose of confidential communications between the board and its attorneys 
relating to Tecumseh Public Schools vs. Earls and James. After more than an 
hour, the board convened to open session

Robert Mayo, vice-president of the school board made a motion to institute 
the drug testing policy the 2002-2003 school year, with the exception of 
initial drug testing.

The new school policy allows only for random drug testing of students 
involved in extracurricular activities. Students will not be required to 
pass a drug test upon enrollment in school activities, said School Board 
President Terry O'Rorke. However, initial drug testing will be considered 
for the 2003-2004 school year, said Mayo.

In attendance of the special school board meeting were family and friends 
of former Tecumseh High School student Lindsay Earls, who filed a lawsuit 
with student Daniel James in 1999 alleging portions of the testing policy 
violated student's rights to be free from unreasonable searches.

The two students originally filed in the U.S. District Court in Oklahoma 
City with the backing of the American Civil Liberties Union.

Earls mother, Lori Earls said her daughter has moved past the lawsuit and 
is now attending college in New Hampshire.

"She's past it now," said Lori Earls.

Although, Lindsay Earls has graduated high school and moved on, Lori Earls 
said she has two other children in the Tecumseh school system who have 
issues with the drug policy.

She said her two daughters, Lacy and Kasey are both active in 
extracurricular activities, including the 4H Club, Future Farmers of 
America (FFA), and the Spanish Club.

A complete copy of the Activity Student Drug Testing Policy for the 
2002-2003 school year will be available Tuesday morning at the Board of 
Education, said O'Rorke.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom