Pubdate: Thu, 12 Jun 2003
Source: Clarion-Ledger, The (MS)
Copyright: 2003 The Clarion-Ledger
Contact: http://www.clarionledger.com/about/letters.html
Website: http://www.clarionledger.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/805

PETAL HIGH PLANS TO ENACT DRUG TESTING

Policy Aimed At Students Involved In School Organizations

The Associated Press

Petal High School students involved in extracurricular activities will face 
random drug tests this fall.

The Petal School Board on Tuesday approved the plan.

"This is something we have been wanting to do for several years," 
Prin-cipal Jack Linton said. "We've been conducting drug tests on all of 
our athletes for the past 10 years and wanted to extend it to include 
students who are involved in competitive-based extracurricular activities."

The new policy affects students in the band, show choir, chorus, forensics 
and drama teams, among others, Linton said.

Ten percent of whatever the total number of students in the organization is 
will be randomly tested for drugs, he said.

Aside from talking to community members and those on the school board, the 
issue was addressed at the Shared Decision Council, a forum at the high 
school that includes teachers, professionals, students and parents, Linton 
said.

"Everyone we spoke to was behind this idea all the way," James Hutto, Petal 
School District superintendent, said. "The whole idea is not to try and 
catch a student doing something wrong, but to act as a deterrent."
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MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens