Pubdate: Fri, 16 Apr 1999 Source: Times Press Recorder (CA) Address: PO Box 460, Arroyo Grande, CA 93421 Fax: +1-805-473-0571 Author: Jack Beardwood, TPR staff writer FOURSOME OF STUDENTS GETS A TASTE OF GOVERNMENT Mock Board of Supervisors Splits on Drug Testing, Funding San Luis Obispo - Four South County high school students took part in "Youth in Government Day" at the County Government Center. Activities included a mock Board of Supervisors meeting in which the students passed a measure supporting mandatory random drug testing of high school athletes. Moments later, they impaneled another board that denied a request from the county's Drug and Alcohol Services to allocate $20,000 to pay for the testing. Both resolutions were 3-2 votes. Local students involved in the activities included Lia Metz and David Albert of Arroyo Grande High School and Josef Reithofer and Karen Soto of Lopez High School. Twenty-five participating students also were allowed to "shadow" the activities of real members of the board, as well as department heads such as the Sheriff and Chief Probation Officer. They were also treated to lunch at the San Luis Obispo City/County Library Community Room. Last fall, Shandon High School began testing all student athletes for drug use. A Supreme Court ruling issued March 22 states that schools cannot routinely test groups of students. The mock meeting was broadcast over KCBX-FM Radio in San Luis Obispo. - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D