SCHOOL BOARD CHIEF SUSPICIOUS OF DA'S MOTIVES

Obviously District Attorney Harry Connick has an ulterior motive in
his constant pursuit of hair testing on the children in the New
Orleans public schools.

The FDA has not approved hair testing for drugs, nor has this form of
testing been approved by the Society of Forensic Toxicologists. Yet
Mr. Connick insists that we subject our children to this form of
testing -- provided by one company, Psychomedics Inc.

Mr. Connick's "concern" for our children is evidenced by the number
he has arrested and for whom he has subsequently requested the
maximum sentence -- even for the smallest amount of drugs.

I do agree with him on the need to visit Orleans Parish Prison,
Juvenile Court or Criminal Court. His documentation is validated by
the number of African-American boys he has placed in Orleans Parish
Prison and in the juvenile system.

Mr. Connick's so-called program in our schools allows only for the
collection of statistical data referencing the number of youth whose
parents volunteered them for Mr. Connick's experiment. It does not
provide education or intervention for those children who might fit
the profile, but did not volunteer.

On the other hand, the collaboration that the board has with the
Mayor's Office does provide these services to our children, and it
ensures that parents have a right to a variety of approved testing
methods.

Shouldn't we ask Mr. Connick:

- -- Who are the principals in the sole-source laboratory?

- -- Are they paid by the number of children they test?

- -- What happens to the hair/DNA that is collected?

- -- Why wasn't the information regarding the grant brought to the
board for input before it was submitted?

Ellenese Brooks-Simms,

President

Orleans Parish School Board

New Orleans