SCHOOL DISTRICTS CONSIDER RANDOM DRUG TESTING

MUNCIE - Some local school officials might take advantage of Tuesday's 3-2
ruling by the Indiana Supreme Supreme Court to allow schools to perform
random drug tests on students. Before Tuesday's decision, random drug
testing had been ruled unconstitutional by the Indiana Court of Appeals
based on a case involving Northwestern Schools in Howard County.

Larry John, superintendent of Mount Pleasant Township Community Schools,
said his school district would review its current policy of "reasonable
suspicion," which states that a student or employee can be tested if there
is reason to believe drug use has occurred. The option to perform random
testing will be considered, John said..

"I think we are a community that will look strongly at drug testing in some
fashion," he said.

John said he would be "surprised" if school officials did not decide to
return to some form of random testing.

During an informational drug forum at Yorktown High School last month, some
parents suggested random drug testing of students. The forum came after one
student was expelled and 10 others were suspended when school officials
caught them with the drug OxyContin at school in December.

Before a final decision is made, John said, school officials will also
discuss the court's decision with school attorney Steve Murphy.

At Monroe Central Schools in Parker City, Supt. Monte Stebbins said the
school district did not have a drug testing policy in place.

Stebbins said he suspected the decision would be discussed at the next
school meeting, but he did not expect a change, especially this late in the
school year.

"Sometimes you have to see if it's worth the battle," he said.

Muncie Community Schools also do not have a drug testing policy in place,
but police drug-sniffing dogs are allowed to conduct drug sweeps at the
city schools.

Even without a drug testing policy in Muncie schools, Supt. Marlin Creasy
said he was happy to see the courts uphold the decision because random drug
testing could be a deterrent.