FOR NOW, JUDGE'S RULING REQUIRES A MIDDLE GROUND

Officials of the Tulia Independent School District can disagree with a
recent ruling by U.S. District Judge Mary Lou Robinson against the
district's random drug testing policy, but the ruling requires
consideration of maintaining the policy on a voluntary basis for the time
being.

Robinson ruled Nov. 30 that the district's drug testing policy aimed at
students participating in extracurricular activities was not justifiable,
due in part to the inability to determine how widespread the use of illegal
drugs is by students within the district. District officials announced
Thursday an appeal to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and a school
board decision to continue the tests. A subsuquent ruling by Robinson
forbid the district from testing two students involved in the lawsuit

The decision to implement such a policy should be made on an individual
basis by those most familiar with a district's needs and concerns, namely
school officials and community members. Such is the case in Tulia.
Hopefully, this will be a primary consideration in the appeal.

In the meantime, implementing the policy on primarily a voluntary basis
will serve as a safeguard against further litigation.

District officials may not agree with the ruling, but until legalities run
their course, voluntary compliance is the best option.