Pubdate: Wed, 2 Aug 2006
Source: Palestine Herald Press (TX)
Copyright: 2006, The Palestine Herald Press.
Contact:  http://www.palestineherald.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2487
Author: Mary Rainwater, The Palestine Herald
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Testing)

PISD ANNOUNCES MANDATORY DRUG-TESTING POLICY MEETINGS

Palestine -- As part of Palestine Independent School  District's
student drug-testing policy, administrators  are hosting two
informational meetings this month in  the high school/middle school
cafeteria.

Scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday and 6:30 p.m. Aug. 21,  the meetings
serve as a way to inform parents and  students about the drug-testing
policy and procedures.

According to information provided by PISD, all students  in grades 6
through 12 who plan to participate in  extra-curricular activities
such as band, athletics or  academic University Interscholastic League
(UIL) events  and any student who plans to park an automobile on
campus must attend one of the two meetings.

"The whole purpose of this policy is to help our  students have a
safe, drug-free environment at school,"  PISD's Administrative
Assistant to the Superintendent  Suzanne Eiben said in a previous
interview. "We want  the parent to understand what is going on with
their  students."

The PISD Board of Trustees adopted the student  drug-testing policy at
a September 2005 meeting. The  board also contracted with T.H.E. LAB
of Tyler to  conduct the testing at that time.

The policy states that drug testing is required of any  student in
grades 6-12 who chooses to participate in  school-sponsored
extracurricular activities or plans to  park a vehicle on campus.

Before the student is allowed to participate in any  extracurricular
activities or park a vehicle on campus,  the student, and their parent
or guardian must sign a  consent form agreeing to be subject to the
rules and  procedures of the drug-testing program.

If appropriate consent is not given, the student shall  not be allowed
to participate in extracurricular  activities or park a vehicle on
campus.

Consent forms will be available to sign at the  meetings.

For more information call PISD 903-731-8000. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake