FATHER APPEALS SON'S SUSPENSION FOR REFUSING MANDATORY DRUG TEST

LOCKNEY, Texas - A father is challenging the suspension of his 12-year-old
son for refusing to take a drug test required of every student in the
school district.

The Lockney district has decided to punish sixth-grader Brady Tannahill as
if he had tested positive for illegal drugs. He was the only student to
refuse the test.

Brady faces a 21-day suspension from extracurricular activities, at least
three days' suspension and substance abuse counseling.

He also could be required to take a drug test every month for a year. Each
time he refuses, it will be considered a repeat offense, and the punishment
escalates.

The school board approved the drug policy last year, which requires a
signed parental consent form allowing the drug tests. The mandatory testing
of the district's teachers and 399 students in grades 6 through 12 was
completed Thursday.

Larry Tannahill met with his son's junior high principal on Friday to start
his appeal.

Graham Boyd, a lawyer with the American Civil Liberties Union's national
drug policy project, said he was unaware of any other school district in
the country that requires across-the-board testing.

The district's superintendent, Raymond Lusk, said most residents in this
town of 2,240 people support the policy.

"You either have a drug policy or you don't," Lusk said. "Drugs are not
just in the cities. They're in small-town America."

The idea for a tough new anti-drug policy began in 1997 after 13 people in
Lockney were indicted on charges of distributing and using cocaine and
marijuana. Residents indicated at community meetings that they supported
drug testing of all students, not just those involved in extracurricular
activities.

Tannahill, however, said the policy tramples his parental rights and could
deny his son access to a public education.

On a fourth offense, the policy calls for a student to be suspended from
all school activities for the remainder of his or her career, removed to an
alternative school for at least 30 days, given 12 sessions of substance
abuse counseling and disqualified from all honors.

"My son is an A and B student," Tannahill said. "He's never been in
trouble, and right now they are saying he's guilty."