SMACKOVER BOARD FORMS COMMITTEE TO LOOK INTO RANDOM DRUG TESTING POLICY

SMACKOVER - Officials in Smackover have formed a committee to look into a
random drug testing policy for extracurricular activities, in light of a
recent Supreme Court ruling in favor of such policies.

Superintendent Darrell Porter said he was waiting for the Supreme Court to
make a decision in the matter because "I knew they were considering it."

"I recommend forming a committee to look into the matter," he said.

In addition, the board agreed that board Vice President Robin Darden and
fellow board officer Jerry Hegwood will represent the board on the new
committee.

Porter gave some information on schools around the state that already have
such policies in place.

"You can recommend doing it the way they do it or any other way," he said.
"Look into it and we'll discuss this at the next board meeting."

The board also approved a proposed budget of $4.6 million, but Porter
explained that the budget was not the one the school uses to operate.

"It's just a guesstimation that the state requires us to come up with," he
said. "It really doesn't mean much of anything, but we've got to do it."

In addition, the board accepted the resignation of Shannon Martin as
cafeteria worker, and hired Eric Henderson, secondary teacher/coach; Deborah
Fleming, secondary teacher; Winnie Bell Kegley, part-time aide; and Karla
Darden, special education aide.

Vice President Robin Darden, who was acting chairman at the meeting, recused
herself from the vote due to a conflict of interest.

The board also approved making the following shifts in duties: Veronica
Robinson, from second grade to third grade; Heather Peeples, from fourth
grade to first grade; Joleen Braswell, from kindergarten to fourth grade;
and Sheryl Jones, from special education aide to elementary physical
education.

In other business, the board approved bids for student insurance, Student
Resources, Inc.; fuel, E.C. Hammond Oil; bread, Flowers Baking Co.; and
milk, Coleman Dairy.