HAMILTON SCHOOL BOARD ADOPTS DRUG TESTING POLICY

During their Monday night meeting Hamilton I.S.D. trustees adopted a
policy for the random drug testing of students in extracurricular
activities and employed a new teacher for the coming school year.

Present for the meeting were board members Nancy Diaz, Herman Lanmon
Jr., Jon Mark Jester, Ken Shaffer, Mason Bullard and Patti
Southerland as well as Superintendent Sam Bell. William Lasater
arrived a few minutes after the meeting started.

After conducting a public hearing on the proposed random drug
testing, which resulted in no public comment, the board voted
unanimously to adopt the policy effective August 2006.

In the introduction the policy states:

When a student makes a commitment to participate in extracurricular
activities, they are making a decision to represent not only Hamilton
I.S.D. but also the community of Hamilton, Texas. This added
responsibility should be taken seriously and comes with additional
student responsibilities. Because of these beliefs, each student, as
a member of an extracurricular organization, shall be expected to be
drug, alcohol and tobacco free, both at school and in the community
(24 hours a day, 7 days a week).

Should a student who participates in extracurricular activities use,
possess or be under the influence of any type of prohibited substance
on school property or at a school related event, school policy and
state law will be followed and the student will be appropriately
disciplined in addition to the consequences listed in this policy.

The policy also states:

The district requires drug testing of any student in grades 7-12 who
chooses to participate in school-sponsored extracurricular
activities. Other students in grades 6-12 may volunteer to
participate in the program. A student participating in
extracurricular activities shall receive an entrance test for the
presence of prohibited substances prior to the 2006-2007 school year.
In subsequent school years, participants in grades 7 and 9 shall
receive an entrance test prior to beginning extracurricular
participation for the school yearAll participants shall be subject
to random testing throughout the school yearParental consent for 7th
- -- 12th grade students to submit to biological testing is required as
a condition of participation in extracurricular activities. Refusal
by a student or his/her parent/guardian to submit to biological
testing, or intentional avoidance of testing will enact the same
consequences as if the student had tested positive for an ille! gal
substance.

High School Principal James Hopper told the board that he will
conduct a meeting of the entire student body to inform them of the
new policy before the end of this school year.

Copies of the district's policy regarding random drug testing are
available in the high school office or the office of the
superintendent at Hamilton I.S.D.

Trustees approved employment of Brandi Balzen for the coming school
year subject to assignment. She was a teacher's assistant from
1995-2001 and has substituted in the district since 2001. Balzen is a
2005 graduate of Tarleton State University with a Bachelor of Science
and teacher certification in English, Communications and Human Science.

Business manager Jimmy C. Adams gave the financial report and a brief
update on the board status of the 2006-2007 district budget as well
as an update on the legislative special session.

The board approved district summer office hours of 7 a.m. until 5
p.m. Monday through Thursday with offices being closed on Fridays
beginning June 5 and ending July 27.

Trustees also approved selection of Ramon Haile as the auditor for
Hamilton I.S.D. and a contract to retain Schwartz and Eichelbaum as
the legal counsel and representative for the district.

In other business they approved the adoption of the resolution
stating that the district has reviewed investment policies and
strategies, scheduled a goal setting workshop for June 10 and moved
the school calendar's student holiday scheduled for Feb. 19 to Feb.
2 to fit the TAKS testing schedule. They also nominated by resolution
Kenneth Miller of the Hamilton Herald-News and Meredith Beal of KCLW
for the 2006 Media Honor Roll.