Pubdate: Sat, 05 Feb 2000 Source: Arizona Daily Star (AZ) Copyright: 2000 Pulitzer Publishing Co. Contact: http://www.azstarnet.com/ Author: Associated Press FATHER FIGHTS SCHOOL SUSPENSION OF SON, 12, FOR REFUSING DRUG TEST LOCKNEY, Texas (AP) - A father launched an appeal yesterday challenging the suspension of his 12-year-old son for refusing to take a drug test required of every student in the school district. The Lockney district has decided to punish sixth-grader Brady Tannahill, the only student to refuse the test, as if he had tested positive. He faces a 21-day suspension from extracurricular activities, at least three days' suspension and substance abuse counseling. Brady could also be required to take a drug test every month for a year. Each time he refuses, it will be considered a repeat offense, and the punishment escalates. The school board approved the drug policy last year. The mandatory testing of the district's teachers and 399 students in grades six through 12 was completed Thursday. Larry Tannahill met with his son's junior high principal yesterday. ``That is basically the start up of the appeal,'' Tannahill said. ``That will give Brady another 10 days in school, just like nothing happened, and then we'll go to the school board.'' Graham Boyd, a lawyer with the American Civil Liberties Union's national drug-policy project, said he was unaware of any other school district in the country that requires across-the-board testing. Boyd said cases challenging school drug testing for students in extracurricular activities have been filed in Indiana, Oklahoma, Arkansas and in Texas. Most residents in this town of 2,240 people support the policy, Superintendent Raymond Lusk said. ``You either have a drug policy or you don't,'' Lusk said. ``Drugs are not just in the cities. They're in small-town America.'' The idea for a new tough anti-drug policy began in 1997, after 13 people in Lockney were indicted on charges of distributing and using cocaine and marijuana. Residents indicated at community meetings that they supported drug testing of all students, not just those involved in extracurricular activities. Tannahill, however, said the policy tramples his parental rights and could deny his son access to a public education. On a fourth offense, the policy calls for a student to be suspended from all school activities for the remainder of his or her career, removed to an alternative school for at least 30 days, given 12 sessions of substance abuse counseling and disqualifed from all honors. ``My son is an A and B student,'' Tannahill said. ``He's never been in trouble and right now they are saying he's guilty.'' - --- MAP posted-by: manemez j lovitto