Hall Board looks at expanding random student drug testing

GAINESVILLE - Drug Screen Review Committee Recommendations for expanding mandatory drug screening for Hall County students would include middle school athletes and student drivers; that's what school board members heard Monday night.

System Athletic Director Gordon Higgins if no one else, student drivers issued a parking permit should be tested.

"No one would like to have students driving to or from school that are somehow impaired because they're taking some sort of drugs," Higgins said. "It puts themselves at risk as well as other people on the road."

Higgins said the purpose with middle school students is intervention; stopping illegal drug involvement early.

"Since we've never done middle school testing, take a step that we know works,which is athletes, and then depending on how successful that is,consider expansion beyond that," Higgins said.

Random drug tests for Hall County high school athletes became mandatory three years ago.

High school band members, and chorus and drama club members would also get random drug testing.

Higgins said he expects the Board to hold hearings early next year on the committee recommendations.

"Right now the Board already has some public hearings set up before Christmas on the new elementary districting," Higgins said. "It may be January, February, maybe March before they take this to the public and get their reaction."

http://accesswdun.com/article/2007/12/204570