HARRIS REJECTS MANDATORY DRUG TESTS

But Board Still Supports Drug Tests In Some Form

A mandatory random drug-testing program for students in grades 7-12
who participate in extracurricular activities or have Harris County
High School parking permits has been rejected by the Harris County
School Board.

Despite the vote against the mandatory program during its Thursday
night meeting, the board members indicated unanimous support for
some type of drug-testing policy and asked Superintendent Susan
Andrews to research voluntary programs. Andrews said Friday she
expects to bring information to the board in December or
January about school districts with voluntary drug-testing policies.

Board member Jack Stewart moved for approval of the proposed policy
to bring it up for a vote. Voting for the policy were board members
Steve Goodnoe and Charles Ragsdale; voting against were Stewart,
board Chair Diane Sandifer, La Trenda Tyler, Will Cliatt and Karen Hopkins.

The Harris County High School Council brought the proposal for drug
testing to the school board in response to surveys conducted at the
school in which students, teachers and parents acknowledged that
student drug use was a concern to them, Andrews said.

"When we did a Connect Ed telephone survey, 1,067 said they agreed
with the proposed random drug-testing policy and 311 said no," Andrews said.

The Auburn and Opelika school systems have voluntary drug-testing
programs as part of a federal grant research project. Andrews said
school officials have talked with them. Also, the Williamsburg-James
City County Public Schools in Virginia has a program. Upson-Lee
County Schools in Upson County, Ga. has a mandatory drug-testing program.

Voluntary programs may include those in which parents sign for their
children to be drug tested, or students agree to be tested.