Pubdate: Fri, 28 Jun 2002
Source: Log Cabin Democrat (AR)
Copyright: 2002 The Log Cabin Democrat
Contact:  http://thecabin.net/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/548
Author: DOUG CRISE, Log Cabin Staff Writer

SUPREME COURT DECIDES TO ALLOW POLICY FOR ALL EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

School administrators across Faulkner County are reacting today in the wake 
of the U.S. Supreme Court's Thursday ruling that random drug testing should 
be allowed in public schools.

The ruling, a 5-4 decision, allows the random testing of any student in 
middle or high school involved in any form of extracurricular activities. 
The ruling broadens the court's 1995 decision to uphold the policy of 
randomly testing student athletes.

The ruling has been awaited by the Conway School District because the 
district postponed implementation of a similar policy last summer until the 
court ruled in the case.

"We're going to study the issue," said Conway Superintendent James Simmons, 
who was unwilling to speculate on the district's next move following the 
ruling. "At the July board meeting, we might address it there. I would say 
we'll be looking at what action we want to take."

"I think (the ruling is) significant," said David Bangs, who, as assistant 
principal at Vilonia High School, helped spearhead a program of random 
testing for students enrolled in activities. "To be honest, I didn't know 
how the court would rule."

The ruling stems from a lawsuit brought against the Pottawatomie (Okla.) 
County School District by a student who accused the district of violating 
her right to privacy through its policy of random drug testing.

While the 1995 ruling focused specifically on the role of testing 
student-athletes without making provisions for those involved in 
nonathletic activities.

The decision, while met with general enthusiasm by some administrators, has 
also drawn fire from those who claim that to conduct such testing is a 
breach of a student's right to privacy. Dr. Bruce Plopper, a journalism 
professor at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, who has children in 
the Conway district, has been a vocal critic of the practice of random testing.

"Given that pediatricians and other national health organizations have come 
out against student drug testing, any school board that tells its students 
they can participate in extracurricular activities only if the school can 
invade their privacy should be ashamed of itself," said Plopper.

"I don't feel they should put a child through that," said Ann Lasowski, 
whose daughter will be participating as a cheerleader at Conway High School 
East. Lasowski said that while she acknowledges that drug use among high 
school students is a problem, she contends that the ultimate responsibility 
should remain in the hands of the parent.

"It's not so much the kid not wanting it," said Lasowski. "I would like 
that option."

While there have been pockets of opposition throughout the county, Vilonia 
Superintendent Dr. Frank Mitchell said that the overall community response 
to random testing has been positive.

The Vilonia district has also extended the policy of random testing to the 
rest of the student body, allowing parents to ask the district to insert 
their children's names into the pool of those to be tested, whether the 
child is involved in activities or not.

Mitchell said that students not involved in activities who test positive 
are not reprimanded by the school, unlike those participating in 
extracurricular pursuits.

"It's been pretty positive," said Mitchell. "Most have viewed it as a 
positive thing."

"I think we would have more of a problem if we dropped it," added Bangs, 
who also indicated the community response to the testing policy has 
remained positive.

Of approximately 14 million American high school students, more than 50 
percent are estimated to participate in extracurricular activities. 
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart