DOCTOR WANTS DRUG TESTING

School Board Hears Plea To Help Students

Any child can buy any drug within three blocks of any school in Wichita
Falls, according to Dr. Brian Hull, a Wichita Falls physician and assistant
team physician for Wichita Falls High School.

"You know it's the truth," Hull told Wichita Falls Independent School
District board members in an impassioned plea Monday during a school board
open forum address.

He argued for a drug-testing program to test all students and staff.

"Unfortunately, I'm in the know," Hull said, explaining that he's cared for
everyone from principals to police officers and that he's heard stories of
drug abuse from every angle. "I see too much," he said. "I hear too much."

The city is blanketed by methamphetamine and alcohol abuse, he said. "I
haven't been to a sporting event yet when I haven't smelled alcohol," he said.

Hull warned board members and WFISD Superintendent Dr. Dawson Orr that he
would hold each one of them personally accountable if one of his own three
teenagers in the district's schools is unnecessarily exposed to drugs.

Hull told school board members that if money isn't spent to "help students
early in their transgressions," that it won't matter how much money is
poured into new facilities.

"As a parent, as a clinician, as a human being, we are doing a serious
disservice to our community if we do not look for a usable plan to test
athletes, band members, teachers and students."

All the fancy band uniforms and football success "doesn't mean squat if
they leave here addicted and screwing their lives up," he said.

"I understand drug addiction," he said. "It's a hell of a lot more of a
problem than anything else that will be discussed here tonight. If we don't
deal with it, it will consume us."

Hull urged the formation of a committee with representatives from all over
town to examine the problem and propose solutions. "We're not the only
school district that needs to do this," he said.

WFISD board member Steve Ayer called Hull back to the podium after he
stepped down. "Please stay proactive with this," Ayer said. "The squeaky
wheel-type thing. I'd appreciate it."

Hull agreed. "People know me," he said. "I squeak pretty bad."

In other business:

* Board members passed a budget amendment that will channel $166,000 toward
fixing the school district's ailing computer network. WFISD's access to
e-mail and the Internet was fully operational today for the first time
since last summer, according to WFISD Chief Financial Officer Ken Parker.

The upgrades include automatic virus scans that update every four hours and
can be managed from one central location. A new e-mail system will have the
capability to automatically check another staff member's calendar for open
slots and send invitations for meetings that can be accepted or rejected.

* Assistant Superintendent Dr. Tim Powers updated board members on the
district's plans to develop leadership within its teacher ranks. Out of
1,200 teachers, only 15 or fewer have earned a principal certification that
would propel them into the ranks of administration at a later time.

"I was expecting more than that," Powers said. "When we have a university
right here in town. This might stimulate some interest."

It takes about three years to complete the 36-hour program, which is
offered at Midwestern State University, he said.