SCHOOL SUSPENDS 18 OF 24 ON SQUAD AFTER SUSPICIOUS DRUG TEST

Riverside Parents Furious Over Cheerleader Suspensions

PARSONS - Parents here demanded an apology at Thursday's Decatur County
School Board meeting for a drug screen that found that 18 of 24
cheerleaders at Riverside High School could have been using drugs.

The results of the drug screen Nov. 15 were "presumptively positive,"
according to Medilink, the firm that handled the testing. The girls were
suspended for two games until parents obtained drug screens with negative
results.

Parents said the girls' reputations were tarnished by the episode.

Michael Price, the director of schools, said he was following school board
policy and had to suspend the girls to comply with state law.

The Nov. 15 screening came three weeks after all the girls on the squad
tested negative. But Price ordered a second screening when he heard rumors
that some of the girls were exchanging urine samples.

He said at Thursday's board meeting that he had to respond to the rumors
because health issues were involved.

The "presumptively positive" results mean that further testing is
suggested, according to Medilink.

Price recommended that the board consider revising the drug screening
policy to avoid similar mix-ups in the future. He appointed three members -
Paul Ivy, Bradd Dodd and Jonell Montgomery - to look into the issue.

Price said he would favor a policy that would allow parents to submit drug
screenings from their children's own physicians when they get physicals at
the start of the year.

The cheerleaders underwent the same drug screening that all student
athletes have undergone for the past three years.

Thursday's meeting grew tense as Price and parents exchanged heated words.
Price said he was sorry for the confusion and has suffered along with the
parents and students.

"Do you want me to take my heart out and lay it on the table?" he asked.
Doris Montgomery, the mother of a cheerleader, said no one had apologized
to the girls.

"No one has said that to our daughters," she said.

Board member Dwight Lancaster said he didn't understand the details of the
mix-up.

"But one thing's for sure: There was a mistake made somewhere," he said.