FOURSOME OF STUDENTS GETS A TASTE OF GOVERNMENT

Mock Board of Supervisors Splits on Drug Testing, Funding

San Luis Obispo - Four South County high school students took part in "Youth
in Government Day" at the County Government Center.

Activities included a mock Board of Supervisors meeting in which the
students passed a measure supporting mandatory random drug testing of high
school athletes.

Moments later, they impaneled another board that denied a request from the
county's Drug and Alcohol Services to allocate $20,000 to pay for the
testing. Both resolutions were 3-2 votes.

Local students involved in the activities included Lia Metz and David Albert
of Arroyo Grande High School and Josef Reithofer and Karen Soto of Lopez
High School.

Twenty-five participating students also were allowed to "shadow" the
activities of real members of the board, as well as department heads such as
the Sheriff and Chief Probation Officer. They were also treated to lunch at
the San Luis Obispo City/County Library Community Room.

Last fall, Shandon High School began testing all student athletes for drug
use. A Supreme Court ruling issued March 22 states that schools cannot
routinely test groups of students.

The mock meeting was broadcast over KCBX-FM Radio in San Luis Obispo.