NO POLICY IN PLACE FOR DRUG TESTING TEACHERS IN T-TOWN

By federal mandate, those public employees who drive children to school are
required to be drug tested while those who teach the children are not.

The Tecumseh Board of Education set a drug and alcohol testing policy in
place in 1996 to comply with the Omnibus Transportation Testing Act of
1991. The school board policy includes eight pages describing when, where,
why and how bus drivers may be tested. A pre-employment drug and alcohol
test is required and random testing, as well as testing upon suspicion, is
also described in the policy.

Faculty and staff are not required upon employment or otherwise to be
tested for drugs or alcohol, Linda Meoli, an attorney with the Center of
Education Law, said.

Tom Wilsie, Tecumseh superintendent of schools, was unavailable for
comment. Assistant Superintendent Danny Jacobs directed questions about the
school's policies to Meoli, the school's attorney.

State law prohibits teachers from being drug tested randomly or upon
suspicion, Meoli said.

Schools, however, are allowed to conduct pre-employment testing, but Meoli
said cost could be a reason most do not.

"They do have the authority to do that if they want to," she said.
"However, once you are employed, you can't be tested."

Tecumseh School Board President Terry O'Rorke said he was unaware the
school had the option of drug testing teachers prior to employment.

"I honestly didn't realize that was an option," he said.

O'Rorke said he feels everyone should be tested in the school systems.

"I've always had the feeling that we should have the right to drug test
teachers and faculty," he said. "If it's right for the kids, it's right for
the teachers and the school board."

He said despite the absence of drug testing, the school board has a no
tolerance policy.

"I think in the future you are going to see more things happen to deter
drugs in school," said O'Rorke.