COUNTY SEEKS SCHOOL DRUG-TEST POLICY

HATTIESBURG - Megan Hill said she's heard her school called "Dope
Grove."

And many of her friends say they know someone who smokes
marijuana.

"I don't want people to think I do drugs," said Hill, who participates
in softball, basketball and volleyball.

The Lamar County School Board said it plans to determine who is using
drugs with a policy that would apply to students such as Hill who
participate in extracurricular activities. The board's attorney, Billy
Andrews, is in the process of drafting a drug policy that
Superintendent Glenn Swan said could be used early next year.

Swan said the policy was prompted by parents who made the request for
a drug-testing policy after the district suspended or expelled at
least 15 students for drug possession or use over the past two years.

The drug policy would require mandatory testing of school athletes and
random testing of students who take part in other extracurricular
activities recognized by the Mississippi High School Activities
Association, Andrews said. The random testing technique would be
determined by the company awarded the contract.

While it would be ideal to test all students for drug use, Andrews
said there has been no court ruling that has allowed the practice.
However, courts have supported testing those engaged in such
extracurricular activities as debate clubs and show choirs.

"Participation in an extracurricular activity is a privilege," Andrews
said. "It's not a right."

Andrews said he reviewed other school districts' policies, including
those in Petal, Madison and McComb, and one by the Mississippi State
School Board Association.

Petal High School has been drug testing athletes for 10 years. Random
drug testing for students engaged in other extracurricular activities
began in fall 2003. Petal High School principal Jack Linton said the
district's policy came as a reaction to schools nationwide
implementing them as preventative measures.

The cost to enforce the policy likely will be expensive. Linton said
drug testing averages $20 to $25 per student. The cost usually
averages $6,000 to $8,000 a year.

In Lamar County, Swan said the lowest bid came in at $19 per student
and the district would test more than 700 students, which would amount
to at least $13,000 a year.