LAMAR SCHOOL OFFICIALS APPROVE STUDENT DRUG TESTS

PURVIS - Hundreds of students in Lamar County schools would be tested
annually for drugs under a new policy approved by the county school board.

Under the policy, all students involved in extracurricular activities
must take at least one drug test at the beginning of the season and
random tests will be given to about 100 students at various times
throughout the year.

A student who fails a test must sit out 20 percent of a season or 20
percent of a year's activities. Second and third offenses are more
serious, with students being kicked off the team for the season or
being banned from any sports or extracurricular activities for the
rest of the school year.

Along with any penalty, the student also must complete a drug
counseling program, officials said.

The Lamar County School Board approved the policy Tuesday, and it
took effect immediately.

"There are a lot of other things to life than playing high school
sports, and if we can nip drug use in the bud, I think we've done our
job," board member Chris Ryals said.

School officials said the tests cost $19 each and about 650 students
will have to be tested at least once. They estimated the program
would cost between $21,000 and $22,000 per year.

Superintendent Glenn Swan said $10,000 in Drug Free Schools grant
money could be used to defray the costs, and administrators are
looking into other grant funding to supplement the program.