Pubdate: Wed, 26 Apr 2006
Source: Lufkin Daily News (TX)
Copyright: 2006 Cox Texas Newspapers, L.P. - The Lufkin Daily News
Contact:  http://www.lufkindailynews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3616
Author: Gary Willmon
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Test)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)
Note: This article clipped from a longer article about HISD business

HUNTINGTON CONSIDERS DRUG-TESTING HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

Huntington ISD board members are considering  implementing
drug-testing of high school students who  participate in
extracurricular activities or who drive  vehicles to school.

Trustees, meeting in their regular monthly meeting  Monday night, gave
a thumbs-up to gathering community  input on the issue, but HISD
Superintendent Dr. Eric  Wright said response to the proposal has been
mostly  positive.

"I've heard from several people who have shown an  interest in the
idea," Wright said. "We will be  surveying parents and then we'll
schedule a public  hearing to be held before one of our upcoming board
  meetings, so that we can get community input there as  well.

"But from what I've been able to determine, there seems  to be a
consensus in the community in favor of this."

Wright was superintendent of schools for Woodville ISD  last year, and
he said it was a very effective measure  - both for the students and
in the eyes of the  community - to deter any kind of substance usage,
"especially in those kids who wanted to play sports or  participate in
other school activities. Or if they had  a car and wanted to drive it
to campus," Wright said.  "It makes a statement that, 'I really want
to do this  or participate in this activity, so I'm going to stay
clean because there's a chance I will be tested.'"

The measure could possibly be approved in time to be  implemented for
the start of the 2006-07 school year.
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MAP posted-by: SHeath(DPF Florida)