CABELL BOE DISCUSSES DRUG TESTING

HUNTINGTON -- Because of the high level of drug activity in the
Tri-State, the Cabell County Board of Education discussed enforcing
its own drug testing policies during the regular board meeting Tuesday night.

"You read about the heroin activity in Huntington, and it's only a
matter of time before it shows up in our schools," said Bill Smith,
superintendent of Cabell County Schools. "It's bad enough having
cocaine around, but heroin is a very dangerous drug. ... We need to
make sure students will get the proper medical attention and that
their parents are aware."

The board discussed the possibility of enforcing a student drug
testing policy. The policy would test students who have cause for
"reasonable suspicion" of drug use. In order to do this effectively,
the board will have to vote to do so and provide training to
principals and assistant principals on how to handle these kind of situations.

"We have the policies in place," Smith said. "This is just a matter
of how we handle and enforce them."

One possibility is using a rapid test device that can be administered
by school officials.

Board president Ted Barr presented information on iScreen OFD, that
would provide a simple mouth and gum swab that will take 10 minutes
to read results for up to six different drugs, including marijuana,
methamphetamine, cocaine and opiates like heroin.

"The best way to stop is not to start," said Barr. "Hopefully if we
do this, they will see they will get caught."

The employee drug testing will continue to be administered in a lab
rather than on the school grounds, but Smith said the enforcement of
this also will require additional training.

No action was taken on the drug policies.

Also during the meeting, the board passed the schematic drawings for
Milton Middle, South Side Elementary and South West Middle. South
Side and South West will be located at the current site of Cammack
Elementary and Middle and house the populations of Cammack and West
middle schools and Cammack and Miller elementary schools.

All of the designs have been developed and approved by the
appropriate planning committees.

"In another month, we'll have a greater idea what will go on in each
room," said Dave Ferguson, ZMM architect in charge of the projects.
"Everyone wants as much space as possible, but we still have a strict
budget to follow."

These are three of the five major building projects that resulted
from a January levy passed in the county that will bring in
$65,455,000 over the next 15 years. Barboursville Middle and Martha
Elementary are the other schools to receive new buildings.

A portion of that money, more than $3 million, will come from state
School Building Authority funds that have already been approved for a
new Martha Elementary.