Pubdate: Fri, 24 May 2002
Source: Decatur Daily (AL)
Copyright: 2002 The Decatur Daily
Contact:  http://www.decaturdaily.com/decaturdaily/index.shtml
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/696
Author: Bayne Hughes
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Testing)

DECATUR TO HOLD DRUG-TEST POLICY HEARINGS

Students and parents can get explanations of a proposed drug-testing 
program for Decatur's high schools at public hearings set for the 
next two weeks.

The first hearing will be Thursday at Austin High School, and the 
second will be June 13 at Decatur High School. Both will start at 
6:30 p.m. in the auditoriums.

"Before we institute this type of policy, we need to get all of the 
public input we can," said Austin Principal Ed Nichols, chairman of 
the committee of administrators, teachers, school board members and 
parents who proposed the policy.

"It's vital that students and parents get all the information they 
can, including why we want a policy like this, how we would institute 
this policy and how we put this policy together," he said.

After studying the issue for 15 months, the committee proposed the 
tobacco, alcohol and drug policy at a Decatur City Board of Education 
work session May 13.

It would test students participating in competitive extracurricular 
activities for alcohol, marijuana, amphetamines, cocaine, opiates, 
steroids, tobacco and other substances.
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MAP posted-by: Josh