Pubdate: Sun, 06 Feb 2000 Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch (MO) Copyright: 2000 St. Louis Post-Dispatch Contact: http://www.postnet.com/postnet/stories.nsf/Home Forum: http://www.postnet.com/postnet/config.nsf/forums FATHER APPEALS SON'S SUSPENSION FOR REFUSING MANDATORY DRUG TEST LOCKNEY, Texas - A father is 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 as if he had tested positive for illegal drugs. He was the only student to refuse the test. Brady faces a 21-day suspension from extracurricular activities, at least three days' suspension and substance abuse counseling. He also could 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, which requires a signed parental consent form allowing the drug tests. The mandatory testing of the district's teachers and 399 students in grades 6 through 12 was completed Thursday. Larry Tannahill met with his son's junior high principal on Friday to start his appeal. 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. The district's superintendent, Raymond Lusk, said most residents in this town of 2,240 people support the policy. "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 tough new 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 disqualified 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: Keith Brilhart