COUNTY SCHOOLS CONSIDER STUDENT DRUG TESTING

Taylor County students who participate in extracurricular school
activities may soon face random drug tests.

At last week's regular meeting of the Taylor County School Board,
Debbie Hinton, a Taylor County High School teacher and member of the
school culture committee, asked Board members to consider such a
policy, which she says will curb drug use.

"Research has shown that random drug testing has diminished drug use
in middle and high schools - up to 85 percent," she said.

In addition, Hinton said, the possibility of being tested gives
students an easy way to say "No" to peer pressure.

Currently, Campbellsville Independent Schools randomly tests its
athletes. Taylor County Schools has never implemented drug testing,
though some of its athletes have volunteered for the test in past years.

As of last May, Hinton said, 81 Kentucky schools conduct some type
of drug testing. Of those schools, half have random drug testing. Of
the counties that border Taylor, only Casey and Green conduct drug
testing in at least one school.

While TCHS' school culture committee is looking at a drug testing
policy, Hinton asked that a committee of high school, middle school
and central office staff be appointed to form a district-wide policy.

It's important that the policy be district-wide and not just at the
high school, said Karen Hayes, project director of the
Campbellsville/Taylor County Anti-Drug Coalition.

"Drug use begins at 12 years old," Hayes said. "This is why the
policy needs to be district-wide."

With the easy availability of prescription drugs, Hayes said, more
children may be exposed to drug use. The earlier they begin to use
drugs, she said, the more likely they are to move on to harder drugs
later in life.

Hayes presented findings of the 2006 Kentucky Incentives for
Prevention survey, which suggests 7 percent of Taylor County's
eighth graders and 18 percent of Taylor County's seniors have tried
marijuana. As for prescription abuse, 8 percent of eighth graders
and 15 percent of seniors say they've taken medicine not prescribed for them.

Taylor County School Board Chairman Tony Davis said some students
fake their answers, seeking to impress other students. Because of
this, Davis suggested, the KIP data isn't an accurate reflection of drug use.

However, Hayes said, students do not have an opportunity to share
their answers with their peers. After completing the survey, they
immediately seal it and place it in an envelope.

As for those who simply circle answers without reading the
questions, a few questions appear more than once and are worded
differently each time.

There is also a measure to identify students who falsely answer the
survey as if they've taken several drugs. Hayes said one question
asks students if they've used a particular prescription drug. That
drug, she said, isn't real.

How students respond to these questions, Hayes said, determines
whether or not their survey results are discarded.

TCMS Principal C.D. Harvey said drug use is a growing problem.

"We are seeing more and more drug-related activity at Taylor County
Middle School. Custodians are finding drugs on the school grounds.
It's not just a school problem, it's a community problem."

If a random drug-testing policy is implemented, only students who
participate in extracurricular activities, such as sports and clubs,
would be placed into the testing pool. The Supreme Court, Hinton
said, will not allow the general student population to be tested,
only those participating in voluntary activities.

While this means every student cannot be tested, Hinton said, most
will. About 80 percent of Taylor County Schools' students
participate in an extracurricular activity, she said.

The test results have no application to academics or law
enforcement. A student who tests positive for drugs is only limited
or prohibited from participating in extracurricular activities.

According to the Kentucky School Boards Association, as long as a
student does not violate another school rule, the student will not
face school discipline and will not have their grades or academic
standing affected.

The only way legal repercussions could occur, Hinton said, is if the
student brings drugs to school.

"If they have drugs on them, that is a violation."

If a student tests positive, a follow-up would be performed to
determine if the student is on any type of medication.

The process would be completely random, Hinton said. The labs
performing the test would not know the names of the students.
Samples would only be identified by a number. Only school officials
would know which student corresponds to which number.

Hinton said Premier Drug Testing in Russell Springs would test 15
percent of the students in the pool three times a year for $25 per
test. Bluegrass Drug Testing in Campbellsville will do the same.
Taylor County Anti-Drug Coalition will donate $1,000 for testing, she said.

There are several methods of testing, Hinton said, but the committee
would likely recommend a urine test.

Davis said if a plan is put in writing, the Board would forward it
to the Kentucky School Boards Association for review.

The Board also appointed a committee of representatives from the
middle school, the high school and central office.

Also at last week's meeting

- - Parents Shirley Cox and Michelle Magness told the Board that
students with disabilities don't have access to the playground at
Taylor County Elementary School. There is no pathway from the school
to the playground for non-ambulatory students. Until recently,
disabled students had no playground equipment that they could use.

Superintendent Gary Seaborne said a feasibility study should be
underway soon and the Board will have cost estimates in the near future.

Davis said the Board would try to find more playground equipment for
disabled students.

- - The Board approved state-set pay raises for certified and
classified employees. Certified staff will receive a flat $3,000
raise, while classified staff get a 5 percent raise. In addition,
state lawmakers added two instructional days to the school calendar
starting with the upcoming year.

- - The Board accepted an $84,500 state allocation for textbooks.
Seaborne said the district need is $122,000. The District, he said,
will pay the difference from the general fund.

- - The Board approved 2007-2008 activity budgets for the elementary,
middle and high schools. These funds pay for sporting events, trips
and other extracurricular activities.

TCES will begin the year with $1,317 and will take in an estimated
$14,100. The school expects to spend $11,600. TCMS will begin the
year with $28,020 and will take in an estimated $135,725. The school
expects to spend $134,314. TCHS will begin the year with $120,977
and will take in an estimated $352,632. The school expects to spend $390,840.

Personnel:

New hire - Billie Jo Cecil, functional mental disability aide.

Leave of absence - Laura Gordon, TCMS chorus/arts and humanities teacher.

Resignations - Debbie McFall, TCMS dance team coach; Lois
Montgomery, TCMS head volleyball coach; and Tammy Rakes, TCMS cook/baker.

Retirements - Carolyn Yaden, TCES instructional assistant.

Letters of non-renewal for the 2007-2008 school year

Certified employees - Brandy Abell, Linda Clark, Rebecca Kelly,
Michelle Murphy, Angela Rakes and Tara Underwood.

Classified employees - Kathy Crain