MEMBERS TO CONSULT EXPERT ON LEGAL ISSUES

EAST SPENCER -- Members of the Rowan-Salisbury Board of Education hope to
bring a national expert to town to discuss how they might implement random
drug testing of students.

Board members want to bring Bill Judge, director of Laws in Hand
Informational Services of Oak Park, Ill., to Rowan County.

During their monthly meeting Monday, board members instructed Assistant
Superintendent Bob Heffern to see if Judge is available to come Feb. 28 and
March 1, or March 7 and March 8.

At their December meeting, board members voted unanimously to spend up to
$500 to fly Judge to town to discuss random drug testing.

Board members said Monday they'd like to open at least one of Judge's
meetings to the public, so residents could hear for themselves how drug
testing might be introduced in area schools.

"We could really have a big meeting," board member Linda Freeze said of
Judge's arrival.

Heffern said he'd be glad to try and arrange Judge's trip, but he also
pointed out that local residents might not be as enthused about what he's
got to say as they'd hoped.

"He advises groups to the status of the law," Heffern said. "He doesn't
advise in favor or against, supposedly. He's to state the facts. You make
the decisions."

Judge's visit was suggested in December by board member Jim Shuping, a
vocal proponent of random drug testing of students. Shuping said in
December that if Judge's trip cost more than $500, he'd pay any difference
up to $1,000.

Shuping said Monday he'd like to open at least one of Judge's meetings to
the public, to "anyone who wants to hear him."

Heffern said he'd heard from a handful of parents since that December
meeting when Judge's trip was first discussed. Heffern said what he'd heard
was "a mixed bag. Some are for, some are against."

Heffern said one parent opposed to the random drug testing sent him data
indicating that such testing doesn't have any influence on whether students
experiment with illegal narcotics.

And a letter to the Salisbury Post written by Tom Angell, communications
director for Students for Sensible Drug Policy, an organization in
Washington, D.C., questioned Judge's motive for such a visit.

According to Angell, Judge is a paid consultant for the drug testing
industry and any information he provides is likely to be slanted in favor
of such testing.

Board Chairman Sharon Deal mentioned Angell's letter to the editor during
Monday's meeting.

But other board members questioned who paid Angell's salary and if his
opinion on the matter was impartial.

Heffern said that if Judge does visit Rowan County and speak, his advice
would provide administrators the "chance to discuss legalities" of drug
testing, though no decision on the matter would likely be reached until later.