ROANOKE SCHOOL CHIEF CONSIDERS EMPLOYEE DRUG TESTS

Currently, Only Bus Drivers Are Required To Undergo Pre-Employment Drug
Screenings. Budget Constraints May Put Systemwide Testing On Hold.

Superintendent Wayne Harris has proposed that all prospective employees of
the Roanoke school division undergo drug tests before they are hired.

Currently, only bus drivers are required to undergo pre-employment drug
screenings.

Harris said school officials have considered a drug-testing policy for some
time.

Harris said the prospective city schools employees would be required to
take the test after school officials decide to offer them a job. Only those
applicants who are offered jobs would be tested.

He estimates the cost would be $10,000 to hire a firm to do the tests. But
there is a catch: Harris might not have the money to start the testing next
year.

He included drug tests as an "unfunded priority" item in his proposed $99.6
million budget for next year. If funds are available, the tests would start
in the fiscal year that begins July 1, he said.

Besides the testing program, Harris has identified $2.1 million in other
unfunded priorities, including $1.9 million for additional 3 percent raises
for school employees.

He proposed eliminating 38 non-teaching jobs and making other budget cuts
to provide money for increases in fixed school costs and a 1.45 percent pay
raise for school employees in the fiscal year that begins July 1.

Harris said the cuts are necessary because health insurance, utilities,
school construction and other costs will increase by nearly $1 million next
year and the pay raises will cost nearly $900,000.

He said the combined increase in state, city and federal revenues is
projected to be only $392,000 next year, or less than one-half of 1
percent, leaving school officials with no choice but to cut the budget to
provide money for essential services.

The recommended cuts will free up $1.5 million, which can be used for the
higher fixed costs and small pay raises, he said.

Harris said he has been forced to scale back pay raises because there is
not enough money.