Boy's Father Says Schools Are Violating His Rights LOCKNEY, Texas -- A father has challenged 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 from school and substance abuse counseling. [continues 120 words]
A West Texas school district is crossing the line. This Editorial Board has never been long on support of student rights. While children live with their parents, their rights -- within reason -- are restricted. But the good folk in Lockney, near Lubbock, go too far. Properly concerned about drug use, they've decided to drug-test all students from the sixth through the 12th grades and all teachers in the Lockney school district. If you say "no" to the test, you are considered to have failed it. Fail it once (or refuse it), and you draw a 21-day suspension from extracurricular activities, three days of in-school suspension and three sessions of drug counseling. A teacher testing positive is gone. [continues 78 words]
For the time being, the Lockney Independent School District has stalled repercussions against a student who isn't allowed by his parents to submit to a new mandatory drug screening. Larry Tannahill refuses to sign a consent form that would allow the school district to screen his sixth-grade son's urine for drugs, alcohol and tobacco. Supt. Raymond Lusk said Tannahill has been given time to file an appeal with the district. "Mr. Tannahill has the chance to appeal to me, file a grievance with the school board and go through that process," Lusk said. "It's really in his court. We will follow our procedures." [continues 812 words]
LOCKNEY - Larry Tannahill has spent his life working the land in this rural West Texas area where livestock and agriculture dominate the economy. He says his roots are deep and so are his convictions. That's why, Tannahill says, he won't allow the Lockney Independent School District to give his 12-year-old son, Brady, the mandatory drug tests that his 399 schoolmates in grades six through 12, and all teachers, took Thursday. Brady faces the same punishment as someone who had a positive test: a 21-day suspension from extracurricular activities, at least three days' in-school suspension and three sessions of substance abuse counseling. The sixth-grader also will be required to take a monthly drug test for a year. Each time he refuses, he will be considered a repeat offender, and the punishment gets more strict. [continues 293 words]
Father Plans To Hold Out Son Over Lockney Policy Sometime today, local farmer Larry Tannahill expects to get a phone call from his son's junior high school. When that happens, Tannahill will pick up his child and bring him home until further notice. "I'm sticking with my original plan," said Tannahill, who has refused to sign a consent form that would allow the school district to screen his son's urine for drugs, alcohol and tobacco. "I'm gonna fight them." [continues 345 words]
When students head back to class next week in Lockney, they'll be asked to do something they've never been asked to do before: submit to a drug test. Beginning Tuesday, students in grades six through 12 will be required to provide a urine sample to the district for a drug screening. It's a requirement of all students, not just those who wish to participate in extracurricular activities. The district debated and began researching a drug testing policy in 1997. Though the district has been reluctant to implement such a program, Supt. Raymond Lusk said the district can no longer avoid it. [continues 654 words]
Lockney, Texas - Beginning Tuesday, students from sixth through 12th grades and all teachers in the Lockney Independent School District will be tested for drugs. All students, not just those in athletics or other extracurricular activities, will be required to take the test, school officials said. Lockney is a town of 2,100 people 43 miles northeast of Lubbock. Parents have been asked to sign consent forms. If parents refuse the tests are considered positive, and students will face repercussions the same as if they had failed the test, officials said. [continues 130 words]
LOCKNEY, Texas - Beginning Tuesday, students from sixth through 12th grades and all teachers in the Lockney Independent School District will be tested for drugs. All students, not just those in athletics or other extracurricular activities, will be required to take the test, school officials said. Lockney is a town of 2,100 people 43 miles northeast of Lubbock. Parents have been asked to sign consent forms. If parents refuse, the tests are considered positive, and students will face repercussions the same as if they had failed the test, officials said. [continues 131 words]
The Lockney Independent School District has appropriately addressed the needs and concerns of parents, teachers and administrators by adopting a drug-testing policy. The LISD school board voted unanimously to enact a policy that will tentatively include all students in junior high and high school. The vote was a switch from a previous vote a few years ago in which drug testing of students failed. Unfortunately, the need for drug-testing policies in public schools is becoming a societal norm. Fortunately, more school officials are recognizing this need and implementing a policy to eradicate drugs from school campuses. [continues 203 words]
