HENDERSON CO. MOVES TOWARD STUDENT ATHLETE DRUG TESTS

A drug-testing policy for student athletes in Henderson County could
be established as early as next year, but officials want to study the
issue first to make sure they get the right policy in place.

They took a step in that direction with a committee formed at the
Henderson County Board of Education meeting Thursday.

"Right now we only test bus drivers," said Jimmy Fesmire, director of
schools. "We have put a committee together to study the situation and
put together a policy."

The issue of drug-testing students has created some controversy across
the country. In West Tennessee, Crockett County, Decatur County and
Milan High School currently drug test athletes. In Decatur County,
officials recently discussed changing their drug policy after a
screening that found 18 of 24 cheerleaders at Riverside High School
could have been using drugs. The girls were suspended for two games
until parents obtained drug screens with negative results.

In November, the Supreme Court agreed to decide whether schools can
administer random drug tests to nearly any students involved in
after-school activities. The court's ruling is expected by summer.

The Henderson County board was asked to look into the drug-testing
policy by coaches and parents, according to board chairman Dr. Reggie
Henderson. The committee will begin work in January. If a policy is
recommended by the group, then the board would hope to have it in
place by the 2002-2003 school year.

"We want to do it right," Henderson said. "We don't want to do
something that we might later regret."

The committee will look into what other area systems are doing and
consult an attorney before making a recommendation, Henderson said.
The policy would at least cover student athletes, but could be
expanded to cover other extracurricular activities.

"I'm all for it," said Tim Gardner, Lexington High boys basketball
coach. "I believe it is good for the athletic program overall. I think
it will help them in their life. It gives the kids an out. It is a
good athletic way to say no to drugs, a way out of the peer pressure."

The Lexington girls' coach, Harland Fesmire, was also enthusiastic
about the policy.

"I think it is a good idea," Fesmire said. "If they are doing it
(drugs), I want to see the problem addressed and to get them some
help. I think it is a good thing."