FEW AREA SCHOOLS TEST KIDS FOR DRUGS

While drug use is rampant among many teen-agers in the state, most high
schools in Bolivar and Sunflower counties don't drug test their students.

"If it was an epidemic we would," said James Johnson, the principal of
Ruleville Central High School. "We just don't have a lot of problems with
that."

"We have thought about it, but right now it is cost prohibited," he added.

Johnson said if a student is suspected of using drugs, the high school has
an agreement worked out with the city to test the student, but as far as the
district is concerned, there isn't a policy.

"We don't randomly check anyone besides bus drivers," said Henry Phillips,
the superintendent of West Bolivar School District. "I guess it's really a
fear of the unknown."

"We have talked about it many times at our board meeting, but we have
decided to wait and get a better feel on it," he added. "It's something we'd
like to do to help the student, not kick them out of school for."

Phillips also said there is a thin line between safety and being intrusive
to the students' rights.

"It's something we are looking into, but in order to be fair, we would have
to test everybody," he explained.

"There is really no reason why we don't randomly drug test," said Reggie
Barnes, superintendent of the Cleveland school district. "It's just not a
part of our district policy, even though we know that drugs are rampant in
the state."

Barnes also said there is no group or subgroup they could identify as drug
users. The board has chosen not to go in that direction yet, he added.

"It doesn't mean we don't care or are not concerned," Barnes explained. "We
are just not ready to move into that direction."

Students and parents also have mixed opinions about random drug testing.

Ryan Sparks, who will be a senior at Cleveland High School this school year,
said she doesn't think they should drug test anyone.

"I think it is an invasion of their privacy," she added. "I don't think they
should drug test athletes either."

Becky Knighton, whose son attends Cleveland High School, said she has no
objections to random drug testing as long as it's not used unfairly.

"My child is an athlete and is drug tested at his physical at the beginning
of each school year," she added.

Both Bayou Academy and North Sunflower Academy perform random drug testing
on students and staff.

"We have been drug testing for a long time," said Maury Eubanks, a board
member for North Sunflower Academy. "It's really more of a preventive
measure."

"We hope that if the students know we will drug test, it will discourage
drug use," he added. "We have never had a problem with drugs here, but by
doing so, if it does occur, we can address it and help the student in anyway
we can."