Pubdate: Mon, 09 Jul 2007
Source: Cleveland Daily Banner (TN)
Copyright: 2007 Cleveland Daily Banner
Contact:  http://www.clevelandbanner.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/947
Author: Larry C. Bowers, Banner Staff Writer
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Test)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

COUNTY SCHOOL DRUG-TESTING PLAN PUT ON HOLD

Plans by the Bradley County school system to initiate a random
drug-testing program for the 2007-2008 school year may be put on hold
after an opinion last week by the state attorney general.

Although such testing has been upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court, the
Tennessee attorney general says students cannot be randomly tested
unless a principal has a good reason to suspect a student is using
drugs.

"In light of this ruling, I'm going to wait for an additional
assessment from our attorneys," said Bradley County Director of
Schools Bob Taylor today.

The Bradley County school system had planned to randomly test
athletes, band members and driving students this year. This proposed
policy would have required permission from parents. Athletes would not
have been able to compete without parental participation in the program.

"In all likelihood, this will set our plans back a year," said
Taylor.

"We were only interested in deterring drug use among our young
people," he emphasized. "This policy was another way of giving our
students a reason to say no."

The director of schools went on to say drug use is a problem in our
society, no only with our young people but extending to adults. "I was
hopeful this (proposed) program would keep young people from getting
started on drugs."

Taylor said the school board and school administrators will now have
to go through another assessment in regards to legality of the
county's plan. "Our attorneys had provided an assessment of the plan,
but in light of this ruling will probably need to do another
assessment," he said.

The attorney general's ruling on the legality of random drug testing
conflicts with a number of programs already in place (or proposed)
across the state.

Rich Haglund, an attorney with the state Board of Education, was
quoted as saying the ruling will not bar school districts from
conducting tests, but it could leave them open to court challenges.
This opinion is being distributed to school districts, but they will
probably not be forced to stop testing.

According to a story by the Associated Press, critics say the practice
of drug testing for students in chess club, speech, debate and other
non-athletic activities violates privacy and discourages students from
taking part in the very activities that may help keep them from drug
use.

Several school districts across the state test only athletes, which
has generally been accepted because of health concerns for strenuous
activities.

After last week's ruling, Taylor will discuss the county's proposed
plan with the school board, administrators and the school system's
attorneys.
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MAP posted-by: Derek