One of Atlanta's most prestigious private schools is implementing random, mandatory drug tests of its students and faculty beginning in 2013.
Woodward Academy for years has educated their students on the dangers of drug use, but after hearing testimonials from parents and children regarding student experimentation, School President Stuart Gulley says their teaching efforts are not enough to get the message through.
"It's a gradual realization that the significant education efforts that we had to help students make wise choices regarding drugs and alcohol didn't seem to be having the full impact that we had hoped," said Gulley.
The policy won't place until next year because Gulley wants to give everyone plenty of notice about the changes.
"We are allowing 11 months' notice before we implement the policy to give those who have some disagreement with the policy time to become comfortable with the policy. But if they feel like they can't, then they got enough time themselves to make a decision about whether or not they wish to remain in the community," said Gulley.
Teachers who test positive will be immediately fired, while students will be given school-mandated community service. A second positive test would warrant expulsion.
Gulley says there is not a drug problem at Woodward, but he wants to stop any activity before it spirals into addiction.
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Southern Baptists in metro Atlanta are doing their part to assist victims of Tuesday's violent twisters.
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Tea party groups and Georgia Republican leaders are gathered at the state Capitol on Tuesday to protest the targeting of conservative groups by the Internal Revenue Service.
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Andrea Sneiderman was back in court Tuesday to be arraigned for a third time. She's accused of conspiring with her former boss, Hemy Neuman, to kill her husband, Rusty Sneiderman, in 2010. Rusty Sneiderman
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