STUDENT DRUG TESTS WON'T BE ADDED TO AFTER-SCHOOL POLICY

Rock Hill school officials say last week's U.S. Supreme Court ruling
permitting drug tests for high school students who participate in
after-school programs will not be included in the district's revised
extracurricular activities policy.

"At this point, including it in the extracurricular activities policy, it
is not something that is on the radar," said school board member Jim
Vining. "There are other policies that we have that relate to alcohol and
illegal substances, which apply to all students."

The Supreme Court case stems from a former Oklahoma high school student who
competed on an academic quiz team and sang in the choir. The student tested
negative but sued over what she called a humiliating and accusatory policy.
In 1995, the Supreme Court allowed random urine tests for student-athletes.
Many schools installed drug-testing programs for athletes after that
ruling, but wider drug testing remains relatively rare among the nation's
15,500 public school districts.

"It costs an awful lot of money to do that sort of testing, but we don't
really see drugs in the school as being a big problem here," Vining said.

There is no policy that mandates student drug testing in Rock Hill, but a
student can be removed from after-school activities for insolent acts of
disrespect to a teacher or other school authority; acts of violence; public
use of vile, vulgar language; use or possession of unlawful drugs or
narcotics; and criminal misbehavior of any kind.

The school board voted in April to approve changes to the previous
student-activities policy, which had to be revised to accommodate the
switch to block scheduling at the high schools.

To be eligible in the first semester for an athletic activity, a student
must pass a minimum of five Carnegie units applicable toward a high school
diploma during the previous year. At least two units must have been passed
during the second semester or summer school.

Academic and behavioral assistance will be offered to students having
difficulty meeting the requirements for participation, which are set by the
S.C. High School League and by the school administration.