FLORENCE SCHOOL BOARD OKS DRUG SCREENING

FLORENCE - The Florence Board of Education unanimously approved
Tuesday night the instigation of random drug screening in the city's
schools.

The screenings are to be administered to students who participate in
extracurricular activities and to students who park on school property.

Kendy Behrends, Florence superintendent of education, said she had
received no questions or expressions of concern from the community
about the issue.

Board member Chip Hibbett said his only concern was that the drug
screening should be corrective, not punitive.

"The one thing that gets fuzzy with me is that it could cross over to
disciplinary action," Hibbett said.

Andy Betterton, school board president, said the community response to
the drug screening has been positive.

Several community members have asked, however, why the screening is
not also applied to teachers and other school employees, Betterton
said.

Behrends explained that drug screening for students and employees are
two completely separate issues.

The school currently has the authority to conduct drug tests on
someone if there is any suspicion, Behrends said.

However, random testing for employees would require substantial
research to ensure the legality of the process, Behrends said.

"We need to be careful with the rights of both students and adults,"
she said.

Local laboratories will conduct the screenings for the students.

The school board has already received at least one offer from
corporate donors in the community to fund the drug screenings.