BRUNSWICK FAVORS DRUG TESTS FOR SCHOOL STAFF

BOLIVIA, N.C. - The Brunswick County school board is considering
randomly testing the district's employees for drugs.

The move comes three months after North Brunswick High School
Assistant Principal Greg Morris was charged with possession of
marijuana and indecent exposure while attending a school-related
conference in Atlantic Beach, N.C. Neither Horry nor Georgetown county
school systems randomly test their staff members either before
employment or during their employment. Both have policies that allow
for random drug testing of bus drivers because they carry commercial
driver's licenses.

Jerry Chestnutt, Brunswick schools' assistant superintendent in charge
of human resources, said half of the school system's 400 bus drivers
are randomly tested on a quarterly basis.

The cost for the drug tests, which would be done without warning and
at the site where the employee works, would be between $50 and $55
each. Brunswick schools spend about $35,000 annually on random drug
tests. Under the proposed policy, that total would increase to between
$55,000 and $60,000. Charles Miller, a Brunswick school board member
and former Brunswick County sheriff's deputy, said a drug-testing
policy is needed. "I just feel strongly that we really need to do
this," Miller said. "Maybe we can eliminate the problems we've been
having," he said in reference to to Morris' arrest.

The school system has about 1,600 employees who would be subject to
the tests, but only 10 percent would be randomly selected for the
tests each school year under the proposal being considered.

School board members seemed to support the idea at a recent retreat.
"I certainly think it's needed," said board member Shirley Babson. "I
think it's a good idea," board member James Hobbs said. Board member
Ray Gilbert suggested the board begin implementing the new process by
July 1.

Morris was released from the Carteret County Jail after posting $1,000
bail shortly after his arrest. His next court date is Feb. 14,
according to a spokeswoman for Carteret County Attorney Rob Wheatly's
office. The board does not have the drug testing issue on the agenda
for its Feb. 13 meeting, but the agenda is not scheduled to be
finalized until Monday. Miller said many people he has talked to are
surprised the program has not already been implemented.

"Talking with parents of students, they were amazed that in this day
and time in the business world that we don't have drug testing," he
said. "I think it's an expectation that the public wants us to meet."

Fast Fact

Brunswick schools spend about $35,000 annually on random drug tests.
Under the proposed policy, that total would increase to between
$55,000 and $60,000.