SCHOOLS SALVAGE ATHLETICS DRUG TEST

Gaston Board Also Secures New Library Books, Cuts $1 Million

GASTONIA -- Gaston County school officials rescued the high school
athletics drug-testing program and $100,000 in new library books, as they
attempted to balance the district's $202 million budget Monday night.

School officials did cut about $1million from the budget. More than
$600,000 was saved through retirements and positions that were cut after
going unfilled. Unfilled jobs that were cut included an assistant principal
position, an instructional specialist position and a special education teacher.

Board members also approved a $40,000 cut in travel expenses for district
employees.

Gaston County Schools have been operating under an interim budget since
July as the district waited to hear what effect the state's budget
shortfall would have locally.

Assistant Superintendent Hilton L'Orange said about three-fourths of the
school district's budget comes from the state, which also passed its budget
late this year.

School officials asked county commissioners for an increase in county
funding this year but ended up with the same amount as last year. They said
with this, combined with the increase in expenses, it's been a no-frills
school year.

Monday night, school board members voted 8-0 to approve the final school
budget that used $56,000 given to the school district by the Gaston County
Police to help save the books and the drug-testing program. The donated
money was seized during drug busts and other criminal investigations.

Two weeks ago, board members Brenda Hamilton and Jim Davison argued that
cutting money for books was a bad idea, and they garnered support from
other board members not to approve the cuts.

Board member Ruth Angel said the district worked hard to get the drug
testing program in place and didn't want to lose it. The program costs
about $18,000 a year. It was instituted to deter athletes from using drugs.
About 450 students are tested randomly each year for use of alcohol,
cocaine and marijuana, but not steroids.

School officials spent the past two weeks looking for ways to avoid the
cuts. The money from the policy department had not been earmarked, so
school officials decided to use it to save the books and the drug-testing
program.