KENNEDALE TRUSTEES TO DRAFT VOLUNTARY DRUG TESTING POLICY

Funding of a drug-testing program may become a problem in the
Kennedale school district, which has only recently overcome a budget
deficit.

KENNEDALE - School trustees shifted their attention to voluntary drug
testing of students Monday night after an attorney said a mandatory
policy could result in court challenges.

The board agreed to draft a policy based on the Glen Rose school
district's program in which 94 percent of students have signed up for
random drug testing and receive local store discounts and other
incentives.

Trustees said they will consider the policy at a later meeting.
Funding will be an issue for the district, which struggled to attain
a balanced budget for 2001-02 after running a deficit of nearly $1
million a year ago. A voluntary drug testing policy could cost
$25,000 to $50,000 a year, depending on how many students are tested.

Board President Darrell Barnes said the new budget, which is
scheduled to be adopted later this month, couldn't afford it.

"We have a balanced budget, and we already cut it down to the bone to
get where we are," he said.

But Trustee Roy Boenig, who first asked the board to consider drug
testing, urged his colleagues not to give up on it.

"It's a matter of priority," Boenig said. "I'm willing to spend more
money because it's worth $25,000. If it prevents one kid from getting
high on drugs, I think it's worth it."

Trustee Joseph Taylor suggested the district start soliciting area
businesses to help pay for the program.

Boenig and other board members had favored a mandatory drug policy,
but board attorney James Lobert told them appeals court rulings in
recent years indicate that schools have to first prove an
overwhelming drug use among students.

Kennedale officials have said that will be difficult.

Last year, only 12 of 700 high school students were caught with drugs
or drug paraphernalia. Trustees have said they don't believe the drug
problem in Kennedale is any worse than other districts in the area.

Board members initially doubted the effectiveness of a voluntary
program, but most now say they believe it would create peer pressure
against drug use.

Trustees said they don't expected immediate, widespread participation
in a drug-testing program, noting that Glen Rose's program started 11
years ago.

Under that program, when a student tests positive for illegal drugs,
only the student and the student's parents are notified and
counseling is arranged. On the second offense, the student is removed
from sports and other extracurricular activities.

Lobert said even voluntary programs can pose legal problems,
particularly if students who don't volunteer feel singled out or
ostracized.