WL SCHOOLS SUPERINTENDENT WANTS DRUG TESTS FOR DRIVERS

The West Lafayette Community School Corp. board is considering adding
drivers to the pool of randomly drug-tested students at West Lafayette
Jr./Sr. High School.

A recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that allows student drivers to be
tested gave superintendent Stella Batagiannis the comfort she needed to
bring the proposal to the board at Wednesday night's meeting.

"This does not serve as a solution to drug problems, but serves as a
deterrent," Batagiannis said.

WLCSC currently administers random drug tests on student athletes and those
involved in extracurricular activities at the high-school level.
Batagiannis suggested the testing not be extended to junior-high students.

"I'm making an informal recommendation tonight to test only senior-high
school students," she told board members. "I don't think (testing at the
junior-high school level) is necessary and I don't think it would be well
received."

The board will hear first reading on the drug testing policy at the Aug. 7
school board meeting, and a second reading at the Aug. 21 meeting.

Tippecanoe School Corp. recently passed a random drug testing policy that
includes student athletes and cheerleaders and student drivers. Lafayette
School Corp. does not perform random drug tests on students.

Also at Wednesday's meeting, the board approved a three-year contract for
business manager Ken Barnes, and a five-year contract for Batagiannis.