GREENE COUNTY TO DRUG TEST ATHLETES

SNOW HILL - Greene County Schools will require its student-athletes
to submit to random drug testing next school year, anticipating the
likelihood of mandated drug tests statewide.

During a Monday meeting, the Greene County Board of Education
unanimously approved a plan to test 10 percent of Greene Central High
School's student-athletes for drugs at random.

Both Greene County Schools Athletics Director James Fulghum and
Assistant Athletics Director Russell Brann commended the board for
approving the random drug testing plan. "This will have a good impact
on our athletics programs," Fulghum said.

Brann said the random drug tests will cost about $3,000 to administer
during the first year. Snow Hill Medical Center will conduct the
random drug tests on school property. Brann said Monday night he had
not discussed with the school board how the new program will be funded.

Both Brann and Superintendent Steve Mazingo said the North Carolina
High School Athletic Association may soon mandate that area school
districts drug test their athletes. "It is a step in the right
direction in terms of protecting our athletes from substances,"
Mazingo said. On June 26, 1995, the United States Supreme Court ruled
that middle and high-school athletes can be required to submit to drug
tests as a condition of athletic participation, according to the Cato
Journal. The North Carolina General Assembly will consider Senate Bill
161 during its 2008 session. The bill was left in committee when the
2007 General Assembly session closed.

If the bill is passed into law, it would "direct the state board of
education to adopt rules requiring random testing of students
participating in interscholastic athletic activities for performance
enhancing drugs." The drugs prohibited by the new Greene County School
policy include steroids, alcohol, cocaine, opiates, marijuana,
amphetamines, methamphetamines, barbiturates, PCP, and LSD.

A first positive drug test will carry an automatic suspension for the
remainder of the athletic season. Student-athletes who fail a second
random drug test will be suspended for the remaining season and an
additional 12-month suspension will be enforced.

A third failed drug test will include both a season-long suspension
and an additional 24-month suspension. Brann said student-athletes
will receive drug counseling during a suspension and must present a
negative drug test result to the school district before being
reinstated to an athletic program. According to Brann, a failed random
drug test cannot be used to criminally prosecute a
student-athlete.

After reviewing the plan, school board attorney John Walston said it
met all legal requirements. Before each sport season, Fulghum or Brann
will conduct a Greene Central Random Drug Testing orientation session
for athletes. The student-athletes and their parents will be required
to sign a written consent to random drug testing before the student
participates on an interscholastic athletic team or cheerleading
squad. Brann said they will conduct one round of random drug test on
10 percent of the athletes who participate in fall, winter, and spring
sports programs. The new policy will also allow the principal or
athletic directors to order additional random drug testing during a
season.

"I don't think this random drug testing plan will single out the
athletes," Brann said. "We want them to participate in a drug free
environment."