Graham County Needs a New School Board

In 2006 the Graham County School Board passed a rule mandating random drug-testing of its 250 school employees, including teachers, administrators, secretaries, and school lunch ladies. Any employee found to have a "detectable amount" of an illegal drug or alcohol in his or her body would receive a reprimand and a one-time chance to enter and successfully complete a rehabilitation program.

A teacher, along with the North Carolina Association of Educators, sued the Graham County School Board over the testing policy, contending it violated the state constitution's guarantee against unreasonable search and seizure. A Graham County Superior Court judge ruled in favor of the school board.

Yesterday, however, a three-judge panel of the N.C. Court of Appeals ruled unanimously that the drug-testing violated the state constitution, reversing the lower court.

Today Doug Clark delves into the background of this case, particularly the depositions of Graham County School Board members that were submitted to the Appeals Court.

Oy.

They should've buried the whole idea out behind the school board building by the light of the moon, rather than receive this public spanking.

At least one other N.C. county has a random drug-testing policy (for school athletes), which this commentator thinks is equally unconstitutional.