TALES...EDITORIAL COMMENTARY

TALES FROM THE WEST TEXAS DUST

EDITORIAL COMMENTARY: TANNAHILL V. LOCKNEY ISD--HOW TO DRUG TEST A SCHOOL BOARD

[EDITOR'S NOTE: The following commentary is solely representative of the views and opinions of this editor ONLY AND ARE NOT necessary the views of the staff and management of Suite 101.com and I5IVE Communications, Inc.]

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I saw an interesting picture recently in the newspaper here in Plainview about the Chamber of Commerce Banquet that is held annually in my hometown of Lockney. It usually pictures the awards of "Man of the Year", "Woman of the Year", "Citizen of the Year" and things like that. An event like this really wouldn't be considered anything more than nice, non-controversial local news that would be a real yawner for folks outside the vicinity of Floyd County, TX--at least not until this past year.

That's when something interesting happened in Lockney that might finally give the old hometown its just-deserved Andy Warhol 15 minutes of fame (albeit in a negative way)-something called Tannahill v. Lockney ISD. You would NOT believe who the winners of the "Citizen of the Year" Award from the Chamber of Commerce were this year. Of all people, it was Superintendant Raymond Lusk and the trustees of the Lockney ISD School Board. Normally, such a board might never be considered for a major award like this. Of course, that was before Tannahill v. Lockney ISD came down the pike.

It's even weird or strange in the first place that I have to write about and put my two cents in on an issue that has basically made national news--especially when it deals with an issue that wouldn't have been thought about in my own hometown during my own school years there. But before I go in-depth into my views and thoughts on all that transpired during this case in which I have kept close tabs on for a while, let me talk about things and set a few records straight by various sources from someone who has lived there and known a number of the people firsthand.

First, a few corrections about the background in regards to Lockney itself, the major players involved, and the perspective in which I come from on this. A David Stevens article in the Dallas Morning News said about Lockney: "But for many in this South Plains community of about 1,200, drug testing is no more invasive than a tetanus shot, and every bit as necessary." I hate to get nitpicky on the population, but they apparently didn't get one of the facts on this right. The actual population of Lockney, TX, according to the 1990 Census, was actually almost twice that mentioned in that comment. Just look at the population signs around townthey'll tell you for sure.

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