WILLIAMSON SCHOOL BOARD DISCUSSES RANDOM DRUG TESTING

Will random drug testing take place in Williamson County
Schools?

The county school board gave a skeptical nod at its work session last
night for district staff to begin preparing a grant application for
federal program that would give an estimated $140,000 a year for four
years. The Department of Education will be using the information it
gathers for a study and is assuring districts the information will
not be turned over to law enforcement.

Board members had a lot of questions, mostly about the board policy
that would have to be created on their end. Exactly who would be
tested is still at question. School District Attorney Jason Golden
said they could test school athletes or they could widen it to test
any student in a competitive extra-curricular activity.

The application is due in early September, said Jack West, director
of high schools. He noted that the district hasn't discussed drug
testing in about eight years and that the cost has been cited as a
reason the district hasn't tested students.

"If you're going to look at it, this is the time to start talking
about it," West said.