Pubdate: Tue, 12 Dec 2000
Source: Clarion-Ledger, The (MS)
Copyright: 2000 The Clarion-Ledger
Address: P.O. Box 40 Jackson, MS 39205-0400
Fax: (601) 961-7211
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Author: Heath A. Smith

DRUG TESTING IN SCHOOLS POSSIBLE

District Expected To Make Decision By This Spring

Madison County Superintendent Mike Kent said Monday that a new drug
testing policy could be implemented in the school district as early as
fall 2001.

Kent also said, however, that before a policy can be implemented
county and school officials must first agree that a policy is needed
and if so, what policy is best for the district.

"We are in the very preliminary stages at this point," Kent said.
"Before we can even bring this issue formally before the school board,
administrators must reach a consensus with the board and principals.
Right now we don't have a consensus."

School board members, school principals and Kent met Dec. 4 to discuss
details of a new policy. Drug testing polices from the Clinton and
Tupelo school districts were examined at the meeting because of their
different approaches, Kent said.

Tupelo issues mandatory testing for students involved in certain
extracurricular activities and suspicion-based testing. Clinton uses
only suspicion-based testing.

"We aren't enamored with either policy right now," Kent said. "I'm not
yet sure that we need a drug testing policy at this point. As a whole,
however, we can see the benefits and the problems of having a policy."

Kent said one of his main concerns with having a drug-testing policy
is whether it would destroy the trust that has been established
between the students and the adults in the school system. But he also
said that just having a policy could deter some students from using
drugs.

Although there has been no hard timetable set, Kent expects school
administrators to come to some sort of consensus by the spring on
whether a policy is needed. If it is determined that a policy is
needed, a specific policy could be drawn up and brought before the
school board for approval by the summer.

"My initial thought is that I wouldn't object, but I'd have to look at
how it would be done," said Sheila Espy of Madison, parent of a
Madison Central senior. "I'd like to know how drug testing has been
done in other areas. ... What reasons would bring on a drug test and
who would determine whether a drug test would be done?"

Although Kent said there are no plans at this point to hold any
meetings with parents on the issue, he did say that the public would
definitely have input.

The school board is expected to meet Thursday at Madison Central High
School, but the drug policy issue is not expected to be on the agenda.
It also has not been determined whether the issue will be discussed
during school board meetings scheduled for Jan. 8 and Jan. 14.
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