SCHOOL BOARD A STEP CLOSER TO RANDOM DRUG-TESTING FOR EDMONSON STUDENTS

The Edmonson County School Board approved a first reading of a new
drug-testing policy with the blessing of several parents who attended the
meeting Monday night. The policy, which would randomly test any middle-or
high-school student who is involved in extracurricular activities or drives
to school, is one of the most aggressive in Southcentral Kentucky and has
gained the praise of many in the district.

It is the school board's statement about the seriousness of the issue, said
Darrell Cassady, superintendent of Edmonson County Schools.

The board also voted in favor of a contract with Drug Abuse Resistance
Education at the elementary level, which they believe will help with the
prevention of drug use.

The tests would be given to about 320 students a year. They will be given
by outside agencies and no school personnel will be involved in the tests.
Student athletes can be tested even after their particular seasons are over.

If implemented, employees of a yet-to-be-chosen group would show up without
warning to the students and conduct the tests, board Chairman Tommy Ritter
said.

"Your kid's liable to get pulled three times and mine never get pulled, but
that's random," he said. "If you do anything else, it's not fair."

The whole process would cost "in the neighborhood of $10,000," according to
Cassady, but the board said it's well worth it. The high school would also
have to issue parking passes to monitor who is driving to school.

"If we can just save one or more (students), I don't know if you can put a
value on that," Cassady said.

Parents in the crowd agreed, and some argued in favor of testing every
child, although Cassady told them he'd been advised against that by board
attorney Mike Owsley.

Kaye Tomes, a parent in the district, said her son Jeremy will be a
sophomore next year. He will be in FFA and will be driving. She and her son
are in favor of the drug testing.

The policy could deter students who aren't using drugs from starting and
persuade students who are using drugs to seek help, Tomes said.

She also said she liked the consequences for a positive test, which would
involve sending students to counseling and possibly a drug treatment
program instead of expulsion.

The student will not be allowed to drive to school or to participate in
extracurricular activities until the counseling is completed, according to
the proposed policy. He or she will also be tested five times during the
six months that follow the positive test.

Punishments get more severe if a student repeatedly tests positive.

Scott Skaggs, a Kentucky State police trooper who has a son at Edmonson
County High School, said he is also for the tests.

His son Tyler is a sophomore who will try out for basketball and will
likely join a few clubs next year. Skaggs said he worries about his son and
others in that age group who are being exposed to drugs at an early age.

"Every county around here, we have a major drug problem," Skaggs said.
"Meth is tremendous and it's grabbing younger children all the time."

The state trooper said eventually police will catch daily users, but the
policy will serve as a deterrent to those who haven't started yet.

"I am for everything they did," he said. "I was for even more."

No decision made on ECHS opening day

The school board chose not to make a final decision about the opening day
for Edmonson County High School. Work being done to the school could push
back the date it opens. Members of the board said they have received calls
from parents with inquiries about the opening day, but they still don't
have a definite answer.

The board has asked architects to speed up work on the high school. They
will likely make a decision this week about the opening day, and how any
changes will affect the school calendar.