SCHOOLS HAVE NO DRUG TESTING PLANS

Justices Face Decision On Whether To Allow Students Involved In
Extracurricular Activities To Be Tested

School districts in the region say that even if the U.S. Supreme Court
allows them to require drug tests for students involved in extracurricular
activities, they have no plans to implement such a policy. The Supreme
Court today will take up the suit filed by Lindsay Earls, her sister Lacey
and Daniel James alleging that the Tecumseh School District in Oklahoma
drug testing policy violated their civil rights.

The lawsuit could decide whether school districts can require drug tests
for students who want to participate in after-school activities from
cheerleading to the chess team.

At issue is whether the Fourth Amendment right against unreasonable
searches allows drug tests without evidence that the student or the school
has a drug problem.

Warren County School District has had a voluntary drug testing program for
its athletic teams for five years and there are no plans to make it
mandatory or expand it to other activities, said Aaron Milliken, drug
testing coordinator for Warren County schools.

Milliken said 87 percent of the district's athletes participated in the
program. In 1997, the first year for the program, about 65 percent
participated. The number has grown each year, Milliken said.

"I'm really pleased with our participation," Milliken said.

Cheerleaders and members of the dance teams are included in with the other
athletes, but marching band, choir and other extracurricular activities (at
the heart of the Supreme Court suit) aren't included, Milliken said.

Warren County's program started because students needed a reason to "just
say no," Milliken said.

"We had gotten to the point where just saying no wasn't enough," Milliken
said. He said the board was looking for ways to help students who give in
to peer pressure.

Warren County pays for the tests it offers to all high school students who
participate in athletics, as well as any middle school or elementary school
students who participate on the high school level.

The decision whether to test is up to parents and students. Both have to
consent for the student to take the test.

Bowling Green Independent School District doesn't have a drug testing
program and has no plans to start one, Superintendent John Settle said.

He said the board discussed starting a voluntary program when other
districts started theirs, but decided against one.

"I really don't see a great advantage to doing it," Settle said.