county athletic drug testing policy knocked down

tenn. attorney general's office does not agree

By Sevier County School System

published: July 10 2007 04:56 PM updated:: July 10 2007 04:58 PM

In a press release sent by Debra Cline, Director of Curriculum and Instruction, the Sevier County School System has decided to forgo drug testing.

The Sevier County Board of Education was surprised and disappointed in the opinion of the Tennessee Attorney General's Office rendered on July 2, 2007, limiting the school system's ability to engage in drug testing of students.

The Sevier County School System is aware of its responsibility to it's students and understands that extracurricular activities in connection with schools must be drug free. To that end, we recently adopted a Drug Testing Policy dealing with students engaging in sports extracurricular activities.

The school system's attorneys have reviewed the Attorney General's opinion and most respectfully disagree with the opinion.

The Drug Testing Policy that was prepared dealing with extracurricular activities is in compliance with United States Supreme Court decisions, Veronica School District v. Action, 515 U.S. 647 and the Earl's case 536 U.S. 822.

It is the school system's feeling that the policy adopted was valid and would withstand judicial scrutiny, but on the other hand, to go through such a process would be long and might lead to expensive litigation for the school system.

Due to the cost factor of such litigation, the Sevier County School System is going to hold in Abeyance, its extracurricular activities drug policy, in hopes that the Tennessee Legislature will enact legislation in keeping with the aforementioned United States Supreme Court decisions and enable school systems to enact policies, such as we did, in order to protect students in the system from drugs.

All previously scheduled parent/student meetings related to athletic drug testing in the Sevier County School System have been cancelled.

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User Comments

#1 420 commented, on July 10, 2007 at 8:27 p.m.:

That is good, fascism has no place in our schools. We must destroy the right wing nut cases in this country once and for all.

#2 Too Bad commented, on July 10, 2007 at 9:42 p.m.:

It's just too bad that the Tennessee Attorney General doesn't rule on alot more of the illegal things that Sevier County does.

#3 Pitiful! commented, on July 11, 2007 at 11:04 a.m.:

Its a shame that our local officials aren't drug tested.

I also think they should be investigated for criminal practices!

#4 not stupid commented, on July 11, 2007 at 5:01 p.m.:

User "420"

Like we don't know what 420 means. You silly pothead!

#5 outta towner commented, on July 12, 2007 at 5:52 a.m.:

the policy is a good one. there are athletes at YOUR schools doing steroids. those players are playing positions YOUR kid would be playing. by dropping the new policy, users old and new are laughing as they start a new, heavier cycle. beware when the kid that mows your grass goes from 137lbs. to 210lbs this summer!

#6 Coaches Know commented, on July 12, 2007 at 9:49 a.m.:

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know when someone is high. Coaches know, they just don't do anything about it.

#7 420 commented, on July 12, 2007 at 6:32 p.m.:

Pot is wholesome, unlike steroids that most 'pro' players use. Evidently that is what the State thought, that the competitive edge would be revealed for what it really is.

#8 Hey 420 commented, on July 13, 2007 at 9:45 a.m.:

Pot is also illegal. Go ahead and continue getting high and thinking pot is wholesome. I could care less. All I care about is that you get me my food at the drive through in a decent amount of time. Enjoy whatever McJob you have because you'll never be anything more. THC destroys your short term memory, your lungs and your fine motor skills. Sounds pretty wholesome to me.

#9 420 commented, on July 13, 2007 at 3:14 p.m.:

Hey buddy, I'm sorry that you have to 'work' unlike me being self employed. I could golf but I ride a bike, windsurf and enjoy life as evident of my posts and as for eating at drive-thrus? That again is your routine and that will kill you someday, ya know? A quarter pounder will put pounds on you. Look at Tommy Chong, he rocks and is not F A T which is probably your story, ya know? Sorry that the bud has brought you down to self-obsessed whining.

#10 420 commented, on July 13, 2007 at 3:40 p.m.:

Plus, I never did say I 'got high' if you look at the original thread, I stated the reason for the ruling was , if you read between the lines, that the state realizes that most players would probably be banned as the bar on athletics is so high(ha hah)as to 'encourage' such enhancing methods, like steroids that the high school fields would be half empty or full of players, ok? It really comes down to politics and money. The do-gooders lost this one. Just let it go and relax, their are higher powers than you (no pun) making these decisions.