COLLEGE PARK, GA (CBS ATLANTA) -
Students at Woodward Academy will soon be taking a new test - a drug test.
Starting next year, the school will be giving random drug tests for both students and staff.
President of Woodward Academy Stuart Gulley said drugs really aren't a problem there and they hope to keep it that way with the new tests.
Life as a student is different these days, and that includes the fight against drugs.
Delee Sutherland has three kids at Woodward Academy. "It is different today. It's just around every corner," said Sutherland.
So to fight the ever changing problem, the school decided to make a change of its own.
"We anticipate approximately 12 students every other week will be tested for about 40 percent of our high school population," said Gulley.
Students will be selected at random on their lunch hours. A third party company will administer the urine test that should take only a couple of minutes.
"We feel like with the 40 percent range it's manageable for us from a logistics standpoint and it sends a message to students that the likelihood is great that they may be selected at any time in a given year," said Gulley.
That's exactly what the school wants - to give students one more reason to say no.
Some parents said that's fine with them.
"It does take a village to raise our kids, and I'm glad school is offering to be a part of my village to help make sure my kids are staying in line," said Sutherland.
Brian Nelms agreed. "I'm in favor of it for simple fact that if they do find child on drugs they could get them help," said Nelms.
But there are some parents out there that are a little hesitant about it who said it's an invasion of privacy.
Supporters said it's better than the alternative.
"It would be crazier if Woodward turned the other cheek and say, 'You know we know kids are doing drugs and drinking but we're just going to leave that up to the parents,'" said Sutherland.
We contacted the ACLU, who is not in favor of the idea. In a statement, the ACLU said, "Drug testing is part of the problem, not part of the solution."
Despite opposition, this is going to happen, so we'll just have to see how it all goes.
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