STUDENT FACES DRUG TESTING SHOWDOWN

Father Plans To Hold Out Son Over Lockney Policy

Sometime today, local farmer Larry Tannahill expects to get a phone
call from his son's junior high school.

When that happens, Tannahill will pick up his child and bring him home
until further notice.

"I'm sticking with my original plan," said Tannahill, who has refused
to sign a consent form that would allow the school district to screen
his son's urine for drugs, alcohol and tobacco. "I'm gonna fight them."

Actually, Tannahill said he has altered his plan slightly.

He will leave his youngest child at the elementary school because the
district-wide drug policy doesn't apply to teachers and students below
the sixth grade.

"I kind of spoke rashly the other day. I will not pull my younger
child out," Tannahill said.

Meanwhile on Wednesday, officials from Caprock Medical Associates of
Lubbock moved to the junior high and completed testing on all of the
other boys, Lockney schools Supt. Raymond Lusk said. The girls' side
was a bit slower.

"We won't quite finish up today," Lusk said Wednesday. "The girls'
line took a little longer than we expected today."

Lockney's school board passed the drug policy last year. This week
marked the district's first mandatory urine tests for teachers and
students in grades six through 12.

Of about 400 students subjected to testing, only one D Tannahill's son
D is expected to refuse.

After this week, testing will be done randomly each month on about 10
percent of students and teachers.

Lusk has said that not only is the policy designed to protect the
community and keep kids healthy, but it gives them a reason to back
off from peer pressure.

"If they have the threat of a drug test, on Saturday night if they're
in a group and someone tries to pressure them to use it, this is a
reason for them to say no," Lusk said before testing began.

But Tannahill contends that the policy infringes on his parental
rights.

"They're telling us that they're guilty until they prove themselves
innocent," he said. "This is America. You're innocent until proven
guilty."

According to district policy, a positive test or refusal to submit to
a test results in three days' in-school suspension, 21 days'
suspension from extracurricular activities and three drug counseling
sessions. A second offense results in stiffer punishment.

"Everything's going smoothly," Lusk said of the testing Wednesday
afternoon. "Everybody just seems to be chugging along."