HARTSELLE SCHOOL BOARD SELECTS COMPANY TO CONDUCT DRUG TESTS

HARTSELLE -- Following a lengthy debate Monday night, the Hartselle Board
of Education voted 3-2 to hire a company to do the school system's drug
screening.

Woodland Occupational Health of Cullman will test Hartselle students who
participate in extracurricular activities.

The board members voted to begin testing Oct. 1, but they have not
appointed a drug-testing coordinator and are still refining the policy.

Board members Ronnie Abercrombie and Jeff Gray opposed hiring Woodland.
Gray's motion to hire EDPM of Birmingham failed to garner three votes.

Chairman Susan Puckett joined Cathy Goodwin and Joe Berry in voting for
Woodland. The three board members said they voted for Woodland primarily
because of cost.

The company will charge $21.75 per test, while EDPM proposed charging
$34.50 per test.

"The intent of the drug policy is to deter drug use," Puckett said. "If we
can do this for $22 as opposed to $34 it makes sense to do it in a
cost-effective manner."

Abercrombie and Gray opposed Woodland because the company has never
conducted drug testing in a school.

"We would be better served to go with someone with a proven track record,"
Gray said.

EDPM does testing for a number of school systems in Birmingham, including
Vestavia Hills and Mountain Brook.

"I think we made a mistake," Abercrombie said. "I'm not comfortable going
with a company that has never tested a school system. It's important that
we start off right and go with a company that parents will feel comfortable
with."

"I have no doubt that they are the Cadillac in the business, but do we need
a Cadillac?" Berry asked.

Superintendent Lee Hartsell said the school system would test about 1,000
students this year.

On a related matter, Puckett appointed Goodwin and Abercrombie to meet with
Decatur attorney Bill Shinn to discuss his concerns about the policy.

Shinn, who represents the school system, recommended in a letter that
Hartselle test only students who participate in competitive extracurricular
activities.

The board plans to test all students in extracurricular activities. Shinn
questioned several sections of the policy. Gray, a lawyer, wanted to get a
second legal opinion.

Although a majority of the school board members will not meet with Shinn,
the state attorney general has repeatedly issued opinions advising
government entities that their committee work must be done in public.

In April 2001, Hartselle Utilities requested and received an opinion from
one of its attorneys about committee meetings.

Huntsville attorney E. Cutter Hughes wrote: "I believe that the safest
course is to avoid private discussions where it appears that public access
to the entire process from public policy discussion and formulation through
adoption and enforcement is being flaunted."