DECATUR TO HOLD DRUG-TEST POLICY HEARINGS

Students and parents can get explanations of a proposed drug-testing
program for Decatur's high schools at public hearings set for the
next two weeks.

The first hearing will be Thursday at Austin High School, and the
second will be June 13 at Decatur High School. Both will start at
6:30 p.m. in the auditoriums.

"Before we institute this type of policy, we need to get all of the
public input we can," said Austin Principal Ed Nichols, chairman of
the committee of administrators, teachers, school board members and
parents who proposed the policy.

"It's vital that students and parents get all the information they
can, including why we want a policy like this, how we would institute
this policy and how we put this policy together," he said.

After studying the issue for 15 months, the committee proposed the
tobacco, alcohol and drug policy at a Decatur City Board of Education
work session May 13.

It would test students participating in competitive extracurricular
activities for alcohol, marijuana, amphetamines, cocaine, opiates,
steroids, tobacco and other substances.