DECISION DELAYED BY BOARD ON TESTING

YUKON - School board members refrained from making a final decision on
mandatory drug testing Monday night, saying they wanted further study of
testing options and procedures for collecting samples. Officials questioned
a policy that would allow administrators to "randomly" select students
involved in school-sponsored activities for drug testing.

Information sought Board members also requested more information on
resources available for conducting the tests, funding for the tests and the
punishment for those students testing positive for illicit substances.

Superintendent Bill Spaeth agreed to gather more information and present it
during the August board meeting. He said he expected a decision would be
made within the next "few months."

Board member John Nail said he believed all members were in support of
mandatory drug testing, but agreed procedures needed to be more concise.

"I am 100 percent for testing," Nail said. "And I'm convinced we need to do
it as soon as possible."

Board President Anton Yanda said he did not want any policy to be " a
knee-jerk reaction," but rather an "educational process."

He also said he believed students would find ways to circumvent the policy
at some point.

Spaeth said whatever procedure board members choose to pursue, all current
drug policies would remain in place. Students now may be suspended for
possessing drugs or alcohol on school property and for being intoxicated
from drugs or alcohol on school grounds.

Punishments weighed Board members are examining what the punishment should
be for students testing positive.

Nail said the board is considering mandatory drug testing of all students
participating in extracurricular activities at the junior and senior high
levels.

After the initial testing, students would be randomly selected by a private
testing company.