Pubdate: Tue, 27 Aug 2002
Source: Log Cabin Democrat (AR)
Copyright: 2002 The Log Cabin Democrat
Contact:  http://thecabin.net/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/548
Author: TAMMY KEITH - Log Cabin Writer

GREENE BREAKS LAST WEEK'S TIE BY VOTING FOR POLICY

All eyes were on Conway school board Member Gary Greene on Monday evening 
as he said, "aye," approving the random drug-testing policy 4-3.

Greene, who was in Washington on business when the vote ended in a tie last 
week, said he received "a bunch" of telephone calls, e-mails and phone 
messages on the drug-testing issue.

Until then, he was 70 percent sure he would vote against the policy.

"I have been contacted by so many families and individuals the last few 
days, and to the 'T' just about all of them said, 'Gary, we need this'."

Superintendent James Simmons said the first drug test for students in 7th 
through 12th grades could happen in four to six weeks when all the 
students' names are collected and entered into a computer system.

Simmons is pleased the policy passed, but said "this is one of those things 
left over on the buffet." The board unanimously approved the issue in March 
2001 but put implementation on hold after parent Bruce Plopper suggested 
they wait until the Supreme Court ruled on the issue. The Supreme Court 
upheld this summer that testing of students in extracurricular activities 
is legal.

"I would have liked it to go the other way and have them err on the side of 
caution," Plopper said after the meeting. "Data on whether it's a good 
policy just isn't available."

Greene said, "We don't know. It might work, and I believe it will."

Although the fact that only students in extracurricular activities will be 
tested "still bothers me," Greene said, "it's a good start and I can't help 
but think it's going to do some good."

Parent Janie Kehler said she is "ecstatic" about the board's decision. "I 
think it was the right outcome for children to be accountable. As the other 
parent said, I think it was Mr. (Larry) Edwards, it is a privilege" to be 
in extracurricular activities.

Board President Terry Fiddler made a statement before the board voted, 
saying he had gotten calls after the last meeting thanking him for doing 
the "right thing" by voting against the policy.

"There's not a right and wrong to this issue. If so, it'd be 7 to 0. We 
have seven individuals here who have taken voluminous information and 
digested it and voted their conscience," Fiddler said.

None of the board members changed their vote from the last meeting. Other 
board members voting against the policy were Carolyn Lewis and Lena 
Hancock. Voting with Greene were Tyrone Scott, Floyd Balentine and Fred 
Wiedower.

Board members said the program will be evaluated. "We can always change 
it," Fiddler said.

He also said the board would like the school system to "vigorously seek 
out" preventative drug programs for students beginning in kindergarten. He 
also asked Simmons to change the discipline policies for those individuals 
caught with drugs on campus.

Simmons said he will gather with administrators today "to get this going." 
He also will monitor the number of students in extracurricular activities 
to see if there is a significant drop in participation after the drug 
testing begins.

The test, which will be conducted by Counseling Associates Inc. in 
Morrilton, will screen for marijuana, amphetamines, methamphetamines, 
cocaine and opiates. The results will then be sent to the toxicology lab at 
Baptist Medical Center.

The students' names will be drawn randomly from a pool and they will be 
asked to provide a specimen in private.

The Conway School District joins other Faulkner County school districts 
which conduct random drug testing, including Vilonia, Greenbrier, Mayflower 
and Mount Vernon-Enola.

Also at the meeting, the school board hired Jim Gunnell as head high school 
swimming coach for both the boys and girls teams.
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart