DRUG-TESTING POLICY SUPPORTS LOCAL CONTROL

Last June, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a controversial 5-4 decision
allowing public school districts to conduct drug tests of students
participating in extracurricular activities.

Such tests have fostered a national debate over the past few
years.

Opponents of the drug-testing procedure were quick to predict the mass
erosion of rights and privacy as school districts across the country
jumped on the drug-testing bandwagon.

Some have, and some have not, but at least school districts now have
the authority to determine their own needs.

Rather than giving school districts unbridled power, the Supreme Court
granted school administrators, staff and parents the opportunity to
determine for themselves what is best for a school and community.

This is apparent in Lockney, where the school board Tuesday
unanimously approved a drug-testing policy for students in grades 7-12
who choose to participate in extracurricular activities.

Note the word "choose."

Students also "choose" to represent their schools at athletic and
academic events as a privilege, not a right.

The decision reinstated a similar policy in Lockney that was enacted
in February 2000, but was later declared unconstitutional by a federal
judge.

The ruling by the Supreme Court changed that misperception.

Lockney officials described the policy as a "deterrent."

It may very well be.

However, this is for school administrators, along with teachers,
parents and community leaders, to decide.

Those who fear the loss of misperceived student rights have missed the
big picture - that local control of school policy decisions is
preferable to government mandates, whether the implementation of
student drug-testing is considered.