SCHOOL BOARD REVISES DRUG-TESTING POLICY

ZACHARY - The Zachary Community School Board revised its drug-testing
policy for high school student-athletes Thursday and said it will
begin random testing immediately.

Board member Hubie Owen said the board has had a drug testing policy
since the district's inception, "but we just haven't been enforcing it."

The policy change names Lane Regional Medical Center as the initial
testing agency. Lane officials will use a computer to select the
seven athletes to be tested by urinalysis each month.

A separate laboratory will do another test of the urine samples of
those students who test positive for one or more of five drug groups:
cocaine, marijuana, opiates, amphetamines and phencyclidine, commonly
called PCP.

Athletes will be suspended from play for six weeks for a confirmed
positive test and 12 months for a second positive test. A third
positive test will result in permanent exclusion from high school athletics.

In the rush to create the school district in 2003, the board adopted
a testing policy but never set the procedures for carrying out the policy.

Lane performs the pre-employment screening for the board.

Parents or guardians of athletes already must sign a consent form for
random drug testing in order for the child to participate in athletic
events sanctioned by the Louisiana High School Athletic Association.

Owen said Zachary High Principal Kevin Lemoine is interested in
expanding the testing program to other student groups, including
students who drive their vehicles to school.

On another matter, the board voted to accept bids Dec. 13 for the
sale of another $15 million of the $64 million in bonds that voters
approved in two elections for school construction. The sale will
raise the total of bonds sold to $55 million.

Bond attorney Jerry Osborne said he expects to get a favorable
interest rate bid for the bonds because of market conditions, the
district's rising property tax assessments and the board's financial condition.

Superintendent Warren Drake announced that Northwestern Elementary
School will have a "community pumpkin patch" at the old City Hall
parking lot from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.

Drake also presented an award to district Technology Supervisor Cathy
Black, who plans to retire. He said Black, in four years, helped
lower the ratio of students to computers in the district from 13 to 1
to 2.5 computers per student.