METRO SCHOOLS NOT AFFECTED BY COURT'S DRUG-TEST DECISION

Drug Testing Is Not Part Of The Curriculum At Amarillo Schools.

Before the U.S. Supreme Court approved random drug testing for more
students, some schools already tested athletes.

But not schools in the Amarillo metro area.

Amarillo Independent School District Superintendent Rod Schroder said the
Supreme Court decision will not spur drug testing at AISD for athletes or
other students.

"There is no movement for drug testing," he said.

Canyon Independent School District does not drug test athletes, said Leslie
Broadhurst, the Randall High School boys' basketball coach.

The Supreme Court issued its 5-4 decision Thursday approving the drug
testing of students who participate in any competitive extracurricular
program or team. The ruling expands upon a 1995 decision that allowed the
random testing of student-athletes only.

Many students are opposed to testing.

"I think that's just kind of stupid because they are basically saying that
they don't trust us," said Nicki Carr, a Randall High School sophomore.

Sabra Bowen, a Caprock High School junior, said it "was pointless to test a
bunch of kids who don't need to be tested."

"I don't think they should be allowed to do that," Bowen said.

Paige Rosprim, Palo Duro High School sophomore, doesn't like the idea of
testing.

"If they started drug testing athletes and then it spread to other
extracurricular activities and then to people who aren't in any of that,
where is it going to spread to next?" Rosprim said.

Kim Carter, a Highland Park High School senior, said her school already
checks for drugs, but uses dogs not tests.

"We have drug dogs and locker checks at least three times a week, and if
that doesn't bother anyone I don't see how random drug testing will," she said.

Highland Park Independent School District uses dogs, not tests, to combat
drugs, said Mike King, acting superintendent.

Thursday's high court decision appeared to take some of the wind out of the
sails of those fighting against testing.

"I'm very disappointed," said Alan Bean, who filed a suit in October
against the drug-testing program in the Tulia Independent School District.
"Given the comments the justices made at the beginning of the process
during questioning, I can't really say I'm surprised, though."

The ruling pleased some in the area, however, including Ken Miller, Tulia
superintendent. Miller said the high court's decision could clear the way
for a return to a valuable program in the district.

"This was more of a verification that we were on the right track this whole
time," Miller said. "This policy is just a tool to help kiddos say no to
drugs. We think it's an effective tool that needs to be in place." Tulia
has been at the center of the drug-testing controversy since 1997, when a
suit filed by the Gardner family in Amarillo's district court contested the
school's policy, which targeted all students in extracurricular activities.

The Gardners won a victory in 2000 when U.S. District Judge Mary Lou
Robinson ruled in the students' favor, declaring the testing program
unconstitutional.