B.N.L. Students Could Be Subject to Drug Screening
Carly Nation
May 30, 2008
The Times-Mail
BEDFORD — By the start of the next school year, both high schools in Lawrence County could have a drug testing policy in place for studen-athletes and student drivers.
The Mitchell Community Schools board was presented this month with a policy regarding random drug testing. The North Lawrence board was presented with a similar policy at its meeting May 22.
Jeff Callahan, athletic director at Bedford North Lawrence High School, said the scope of the testing pool for the first year would be student-athletes and student drivers.
While discipline for athletes is spelled out already in a handbook, Callahan, after the meeting, said it has not yet been decided how drivers would be disciplined if they were to test positive in the drug screen.
A proposal update was sent to the NLCS board from the Student Drug Testing Committee. The "statement of need and purpose" for the testing includes the statement "to undermine the effects of peer pressure by providing a legitimate reason for students to refuse to use illegal drugs."
The proposed test would screen for alcohol, benzodiazepines, opiates, amphetamines, cannabinois, oxycodine, barbiturates, cocaine and phencyclidine.
According to the proposal, the committee is exploring ways to fund the testing, including grants, private funding and student fees.
The committee will bring another proposal to the NLCS board at the June meeting. | 
