DRUG TESTING POLICIES SUPPORTED BY RULINGS

Even with the additional legal pull and support of the American Civil
Liberties Union, opponents of the mandatory drug testing policy for
students and teachers in the Lockney Independent School District face
an uphill battle.

The ACLU joined an LISD student in a lawsuit March 8 seeking an
injunction against the mandatory policy. If recent similar rulings are
any indication on the federal level, school districts are not in
violation of the Constitution by conducting drug tests and imposing
penalties for failure of such tests.

The most recent case in point, U.S. District Judge David L. Russell in
Oklahoma City ruled Thursday that public schools can legally force
students to submit to drug tests in order to participate in
extracurricular activities.

The ruling stemmed from a lawsuit filed by two Tecumseh, Okla., high
school students who alleged the policy violated their constitutional
rights. In addition, the U.S. Supreme Court has already ruled that
such drug testing policies are permissible.

This ruling would seem to be the most convincing against opponents of
such drug testing procedures, similar to the legal opposition waged
against a drug testing policy in the Tulia Independent School District.

The policy endorsed in the LISD is broader in scope by including all
students, not only those participating in extracurricular activities.

It seems legally plausible that a policy deemed constitutional for one
segment of a student body - those participating in extracurricular
activities - would also apply to the student body in general.

Judging by previous rulings, it can be assumed school districts have
the legal authority to ensure a safe and appropriate educational
environment.