MCCOMB SCHOOL BOARD PASSES DRUG TESTING POLICY

All McComb students participating in school activities will now be
required to submit to random screenings, according to a mandatory drug
testing policy passed by the school board at its Tuesday meeting.

Students involved in extra-curricular activities will be subject to
drug testing. But the school can make any student - participating in
extra-curricular programs or not - submit to a drug test if the
student's parents or guardians sign a waiver.

School officials said the policy is needed to create a safe
environment for students, encourage students with addictions to seek
help, reduce the likelihood of incidents happening on school grounds
and prevent school property from becoming a place associated with drug
use. The policy, which affects students in grades 5 to 12, comes after
at least two disciplinary hearings held by the board last month
regarding suspected drug use among students.

"It is important for every student, as well as employee, of our school
system to understand the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse," the
policy states.

Students face discipline for violating the drug testing policy by
being suspended from school or from participating in school
activities, or by having to undergo counseling. However, parents can
opt to seek - and pay for - private counseling to avoid facing
disciplinary action by the school board. No students testing positive
for drugs will be penalized academically, school officials said.

Students will be tested for amphetamines, marijuana, cocaine, opiates
and phencyclidine or PCP through blood, breath, urine or hair samples.
Their names will be selected at random.

The school administration can recommend that students undergo
counseling and rehabilitation following a positive test.

"It is the belief of the board that the benefits derived from the
policy objectives outweigh the potential inconvenience to students,"
according to the policy.

Drug testing can be recommend for students who show tell-tale signs of
being under the influence. School officials said teachers, coaches,
band directors and other teaching personnel will receive a total of
120 minutes worth of training on recognizing the affects alcohol and
various controlled substances. School staff that sees "observations
concerning the appearance, behavior, speech or body odors of the
students," can recommend drug testing. The drug policy also states
that a student's drug use even when they away from school is a
violation of the policy.

"Students should realize that these regulations prohibit all illicit
drug use - during and away from school activities," the policy states.

The policy puts the burden on students to report to school officials
what, if any, medications they are taking.

Any information regarding a student's drug testing history shall not
be made public unless the student authorizes the disclosure.

The school district can retain test results that come back positive
for drugs, those that have been tampered with or those substituted
with someone else's sample for up to five years. It can also retain
negative drug test results for one year.