DRUG TESTS A DECISION FOR LOCAL LEVEL

THE COURT ruling that upheld the right of the Tecumseh School District to
test some of its students for drug use was one that was closely watched by
public school officials across the country. Three months have passed since
the U.S. Supreme Court decision and schools are back in session nationwide,
but there hardly is a stampede to begin testing. Which is just fine.

We say that even though we're in agreement with Tecumseh officials for
their reasons behind administering drug tests to students in the district's
middle school and high school who participate in competitive after-school
activities. The high court's decision in June expanded on a previous
decision that allowed random testing for athletes only. Tecumseh school
officials implemented the policy in 1998 to try to curb drug usage, but
were taken to court by a student who objected.

The fear among some civil liberties groups and teachers unions across the
country was that the Tecumseh case would prompt many other school systems
to expand their own drug-testing policies for students. But according to a
recent report, it hasn't happened -- and probably won't.

The report by Stateline.org, an online news service with emphasis on
state-level public policy issues, cited a study by the University of
Michigan's Institute for Social Research. The institute's study said only 5
percent of school districts nationwide test any of their student-athletes
for drugs, even though the high court granted permission to do so in 1995.

Some schools that were waiting for the court's ruling in the Tecumseh case
"to implement drug tests this year have decided to cancel them in order to
avoid controversy," State-line.org said. Meantime, drug- testing policies
"must stand up to state constitutional amendments on privacy," the online
report said, as well as threats of lawsuits.

Fair enough. What's important is that issues such as drug testing be made
at the local level. It is the prerogative of school boards and
administrators, with input from their communities, to determine if testing
is warranted. That's what the Tecumseh Board of Education fought for and
won. What's right for Tecumseh schools may not be right for many other
school districts. But that's the point. It's their call.