YUKON PARENTS QUESTION PROPOSAL FOR DRUG TESTS

YUKON -- Some school district patrons are questioning whether the
district should drug-test students when teachers are not required to
submit to random or pre-employment drug testing. Because of recent
incidents in which a teacher and a counselor from other metro area
school districts were cited for drug- and alcohol-related incidents,
parents are wondering whether students should be the target audience
for drug testing.

"I think it would be in the best interest of all concerned that Yukon
institute a drug testing program that tests all staff and volunteers
prior to implementing a drug testing program for students only,"
parent Max Flowers said.

"Students briefly pass through the school system; however, staff,
including administrators and school board members, hang around the
system for a greater number of years.

"Let them (administrators and board members) continue to set the
example of community responsibility."

Assistant Superintendent Kent Mathers said school bus drivers are
required to submit to urinalysis, but teachers, administrators and
other staff are not required to be tested.

Mathers said felony checks are done on all applicants before they are
hired.

School officials have received both support and criticism over the
proposed drug testing program that will require students participating
in after-school activities to submit to random drug tests.

School board President Anton Yanda said Friday he would be willing to
submit to drug testing.

"It (drug testing school officials) would only be a problem if you had
something to hide," Yanda said. "I think we should be willing to do
anything that we would ask our kids to do."

Board member John Nail said he wouldn't be opposed to drug testing of
the faculty, but he refused to comment about the lack of a drug
testing program for teachers.