RANDOM STUDENT DRUG TESTING APPROVED

The Bartlesville Public Schools Board of Education voted to approve a
random drug testing policy for students involved in extra-curricular
activities sanctioned by the Oklahoma Secondary Schools Activities
Association.

The action came during a regular board meeting Monday evening, and
after the issue had been considered for more than a year.

The new policy will require drug testing for students involved in
extra-curricular activities, similar to programs currently used in
other area school districts such as Jenks and Broken Arrow.

Following a recent Supreme Court decision upholding the
constitutionality of the Tecumseh School Districts' random testing
policy, the Bartlesville district began exploring the possibility of
implementing a plan to randomly test Bartlesville Mid High and high
school students involved in extra-curricular competition in 2003.

The board eventually voted down that proposed policy in August of 2003
as opponents questioned the cost-effectiveness of random testing and
how its success could be measured. Board supporters maintained that
random testing as implemented in other state districts provided an
effective deterrent. The district hosted a drug forum on the new
proposal earlier this month to gain input from students, parents,
teachers and district patrons. Students and parents who addressed the
board at that time, were about evenly divided on the matter.

School board members in favor of the policy have stressed that the
intent is not to punish students, but rather identify substance abuse
and get treatment for the individual.

The new policy passed on Monday will require testing for students not
only involved in athletics, but also competitive extra-curricular
activities such as band, vocal music, orchestra and academic teams
sanctioned by the OSSAA.

The 2002 decision broadened the authority of public schools to test
students for illegal drugs. The court ruled to allow random drug tests
for all middle and high school students participating in competitive
extra-curricular activities. The ruling greatly expanded the scope of
school drug testing, which previously had been allowed only for
student athletes.