AFTER RULING, WAHKIAKUM AIMS TO RESUME DRUG TESTING

The Wahkiakum School District hopes to resume random drug testing for
student-athletes as soon as possible, even though the issue could end
up back in court on appeal.

A Wahkiakum County judge ruled Monday that the district's random
drug-testing policy is constitutional.

"We are definitely pleased with the decision. There is no question
about that," Wahkiakum School District Superintendent Bob Garrett said
Tuesday. "It is in the best interest of the kids, and we are excited
to be able to help kids curtail their drug use."

The Wahkiakum School District imposed the policy in October 1999 after
trying numerous drug-prevention programs. A school survey in spring
1998 showed that 42 percent of the high school seniors admitted using
illegal drugs, and 12.5 percent reported using narcotics within the
last 30 days.

"How immediately we can implement drug testing we don't know, but we
should know within a week or two," Garrett said. "It is our
understanding that the prosecuting attorney (Fred Johnson) will file
an order on our behalf. Once it is entered into the court system, that
is when the 30 day-appeal process begins."

Plaintiffs Hans and Katherine York and Sharon and Paul Schneider,
represented by the American Civil Liberties Union, can use that 30
days to appeal the decision.

The Yorks and Schneiders, who had children in high school at the time,
protested the policy on the grounds that random testing is an invasion
of privacy. The school stopped testing students in June 2001 pending a
court decision, according to Dan Bigelow, assistant prosecuting
attorney for Wahkiakum County, which represents the school district in
the case. "We need to know if we will be allowed to implement testing
again or wait until the entire appeal process is complete," Garrett
said.

He said he expects Johnson to report to the district by the next
school board meeting, on June 21, "if we can plan to resume random
drug testing in the fall."

Johnson was not available for comment Tuesday.