JUSTICES TO WEIGH DRUG TESTING

SPRINGDALE -- Drew Morris wouldn't be bothered if he was selected for a
random drug test at school.

Morris, a senior at Springdale High School, would easily pass the test, he
said.

"I wouldn't have a problem because I don't have anything to hide," said
Morris, 18, who plays trumpet in the Springdale marching band. "Privacy
shouldn't be an issue."

Privacy did matter for Lindsay Earls, a Tecumseh, Okla., high school
student who was asked to report for a random drug test in 1998. Earls took
the test and passed, but she sued the school district.

The case was argued before the U.S. Supreme Court last week. Justices
seemed to be leaning toward approving random drug testing for students who
take part in extracurricular activities like band and choir.

The court is expected to rule this summer.

The Tecumseh testing policy covered a range of voluntary clubs and sports,
including the Future Farmers of America, cheerleading and football.

Some Rogers School District officials discussed a similar plan in 1996,
said Charles Russell, an assistant superintendent who supervises secondary
education.

The Rogers School Board ended up adopting a policy of testing students who
participate in sports, cheerleading and the drill team.

The Springdale district has been testing students since 1996 who compete in
sports or cheerleading, or any activity in which they must take a physical
examination.

"We look at it as a health issue," said Hartzell Jones, Springdale's deputy
superintendent for personnel. "We do need it as part of health protection
for kids."

The Fayetteville School District has had a similar policy since 1998.

Bentonville also tests its athletes, but Superintendent Gary Compton said
he doesn't want to start subjecting students in all activities to drug tests.

"I'm opposed to us choosing to segregate students out from the rest of
society," Compton said. "Why do we not wipe the slate clean and have
mandatory, random drug testing in every aspect of society?

"I guess I'd ask the question, 'Why them and not newspaper reporters and
not school superintendents?' " Compton said.

Students competing physically and on drugs could harm other students, said
Don Love, Springdale High's principal.

"I think we have a good policy in place that's well-grounded," Love said.
"Safety and health. When you're throwing people up in the air and
cheerleading, you don't want impairment."

Drug-testing policies are left to school districts, he said.

The activities association proposed a plan a few years ago for random drug
and alcohol testing for students, but schools rejected the proposal, Coats
said.

Russell Robinson, band director at Springdale High, said he doesn't want
students using drugs, but random testing doesn't seem to be ethical. Band
students aren't tested in Springdale.

"Are we infringing on their civil rights? I think it's pretty close,"
Robinson said. "In essence, we're saying you're guilty until you're proven
innocent."

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, 25.7 percent of high
school seniors in 2001 reported they used illegal drugs in the 30 days
prior to being surveyed.

The 2001 Phi Delta Kappan/Gallup Poll of the public's attitudes towards
schools showed illegal drug use was far down the list of problems schools face.

Marsha Jones, Springdale's assistant superintendent for
curriculum/instruction, said students who compete in activities like band
and choir should face higher scrutiny, just like athletes.

"I think students ought to be at their very best," she said. "If that means
making a good decision about drug and alcohol abuse ... they do represent
the school."

Aaron Barchenger, 18, a senior at Springdale High who led the marching band
as field commander this year, said random drug testing may be a good
deterrent against using drugs.

"I don't think it's an invasion of privacy," Barchenger said. "I've been
around a couple of people on drugs before and the way they act is not good."