Wednesday, January 4,1989/The Battalion/Page 3 State/Local Bullock proposes issuing school construction bonds AUSTIN (AP) — roller Bob Bullock proposed Tuesday that the state issue some $750 mil lion in bonds to help finance con struction of additional school classrooms in Texas. Such a plan, which would re quire approval of the Legislature, could allow school districts to spend additional money on im proved programs or property tax relief instead of construction, Bullock said. “Where our kids are educated is just as important as textbooks and lesson plans,” he said, adding that Texas is one of just 10 states that don't give Financial assistance ttL 'local districts to build class rooms. __ Bullock, a Democrat who is running for lieutenant governor in 1990, unveiled the plan in a let ter to lawmakers who gather next week for the 71st regular legis lative session. The plan is similar to an idea Bullock offered last year as part of a larger proposal to help the stale deal with a district judge's ruling that the school finance sys tem was unconstitutional. That ruling by Judge Harley Clark would have required the system to be overhauled by Sept. 1, at an estimated cost of $1 bil lion to $2 billion. However, his ruling was overturned last month by the 3rd Court of Appeals. The case is being appealed to the Texas Supreme Court. Concerns have been voiced by some lawmakers and others that momentum to reform the school Finance system might stall be cause of the appeals court ruling. Tony Proffitt, a spokesman for Bullock, said the comptroller de cided to offer the classroom con struction plan in case other school funding issues aren’t addressed. “He’s not sure the big educa tion plan will go,’’ Proffitt said. “This is something they (legis lators) can do that’s not going to cost the state a lot of money ." Bullock said high property tax rates “are killing education, and it's time for the state to help. “We need to give these schools some relief on expensive, big- ticket items like classrooms. Texas needs classrooms, labo ratories and libraries I'm not talking about building football stadiums, gymnasiums or swim ming pools He said the bond monev also could be used to refund any costly outstanding school bond debts, with savings applied to a district’s educational programs. According to the comptroller, the state's approximately 1,100 school districts paid nearly $900 million in 1988 on more than $6.5 billion in interest and princi pal. The state has the highest public school bond debt in the na tion, he said. Congress will hear bill on workplace drug abuse AUSTIN (AP) — A bill requiring efforts to guard against workplace drug abuse by some construction businesses and other safety-sensitive industries was introduced Tuesday with support from business, labor and the Texas Civil Liberties Union. The measure by Rep. Lloyd Criss, D-La Marque, also would require li censing of medical laboratories con ducting drug tests and establishing standards for rehabilitation pro grams. It sets up procedures to safe guard workers' rights. “Right now, there are no rules.” Criss said. “Although there are legit imate drug testing laboratories “scams" also exist because of a lack of state regulation. Joined at a news conference by representatives of the Texas Asso- ciatiqp of Business, the International Association of Plumbers and Pipefit ters, and the Texas Building and Construction Trades Council, Criss said his bill would protect rights of both workers and employers. “Drug abuse on the work site is damaging to the business commu nity because it causes losses in pro duction. accidents, higher workers compensation (insurance) premiums and Overall lower morale on the worksite,” Criss said. “It also is damaging to the worker, especially the worker who has to work alongside the drug abuser." he said. “That worker certainly has to work on an unsafe worksite, and generally he has to pick up the rest of the load that the drug abuser is failing to do." The Texas Civil Liberties Union sued an Austin computer chip- x maker that administered drug tests to workers, and a state district judge decided for the employer in the case, which is on appeal, ^ut Jim Harring ton, TCLU legal director, said the group supports Criss’s bill. “ I nis makes it very clear what ev erybody’s rights are in the situation.” Harrington said. manufacturing, petrochemicals and public utilities. Specific guidelines are included for drug policies, and employers would be required to give workers written copies of their policies. Drug testing would be allowed Teacher plans black Texans museum AUSTIN (AP) — An Austin tea cher, frustrated with the lack of in formation about blacks' role in the history and development of Texas, decided to take matters into his own hands. McCallum High School history teacher David Williams and others began working on the Black Texans Cultural Museum and Hall of Fame IVfc years ago. The museum is to open by mid-June. * Williams has visited more than 22 Texas counties in search of the mi* mg historical links connecting blacks to the state's chronological chain. At best, such information is frag mented, WiHiams said. At worst, the historical data has never been docu mented and is absent from textbooks and classes. Information about notable black figures, historical events, inventions, black communities and early set tlements will be collected, housed and displayed at the cultural mkh seum. wf mu- Wiiliams said will be the first of its kind in the state. A computerized research center at the museum will provide informa tion on black Texans and events on request. Williams told the Austin Amencan-Sutcsman, and exhibits of statewide interest will be sent to museums throughout Texas. University of Texas Professor John Warfield said the museum is “a good idea and represents something we should be doing to appreciate the heritage of Blacks in this state.'* ‘But I am concerned that history not be defined solely by heroes or outstanding achievements. We must also take up the struggle of ordinary people and the masses to under stand the whole picture,” Warfield said, who teaches educational psy chology and African-American stud ies. Williams, who earned a doctorate in education from Baylor University, said he did not learn of the seven blacks who fought or served during the Texas Revolution in history classes. “I had to get it the hard way, mostly through lengthy research,” he said. Among those seven blacks. Wil liams said, is Samuel McCullough Jr. of Jackson County, one of the first soldiers to shed blood’during Texas' struggle fbr independence from Mexico. Even though McCullough re ceived ^.Jife-crippling injury to his shoulder in 1835 while lighting for the Republic of Texas, he, like other fiee blacks, was ordered to leave the Republic five years later. It took an act of Congress for McCullough and his family to live in the state for whkh he risked his life. The six other known blacks who fought or served in that war were Peter Allen of Huntsville, a black smith and soldier massacred at Go liad with Col. James Fannin in 1836; Greenberry Logan of Brazoria County, another blacksmith and sol dier who fought in the Battle of Concepcion in 1835; Hendrick Ar nold of San Antonio, who served as a military guide at the Scige of Bexar in 1835. Also “Dick the Drummer," a drummer in the final battle of the Texas Revolution at San 'Jacinto; Joe, a servant to Col. William Travis who is credited with giving the first eyewitness account of the fall of the Alamo; and William Goyens of Na cogdoches, a blacksmith who served as an Indian interpreter during the war. • Williams has put out a call to black residents for historical documents, photographs, research and oral his tories. Pointing—to the faded, wood- frame structure that will house the museum and hall of fame, Williams said other help also is needed. Volunteers are needed to reno vate the house and perform mu seum-related duties. The bill would require all busi nesses that employ 15 or more peo ple and engage in hazardous work to adopt a policy to eliminate drug abuse, althougn drug testing would not be required. Hazardous employ ment includes jobs in construction. be used to deny employment or dis- cipbne a worker. An employee who tested positive would have the right to explain the results and/or partkipate in a drug rehabilitation program. Although only hazardous busi nesses would be required to have drug policies, other companies that chose to adopt such a policy would be included under the proposed law. Bob Sumpter, vice president of employee relations for tne Texas As sociation of Business, said, “We cer- tamly feel very strongly that with all of the evidence that exists, if we can get drugs out of the workplace, it will mean a much safer environment for the employees in Texas." Criss. citing studies by the Con struction Industry Institute, said a typical drug abuser uses three times the normal amount of sk k leave ben efits. Texas road deaths up after 3 year decline Associated Press A streak of decreasing deaths on Texas roadways has ended after three years, but officials say 1988 still should rate well below the stag gering death counts recorded at the first of the decade. The Texas Department of Public Safety said it anticipates final traffic fatality Figures for 1988 to show about a 3 to 4 percent increase over 1987, DPS spokesman David Wells said. The final figures are not ex pected for at least two months, he said. Traffic accidenu killed 3,261 peo ple in Fexas in 1987. Even Mfith ay increase of 4 per cent, Tekas trA(fiw FDR ONLY... Registration Fee St7 00 Firv Meeting Fee S *.00 Regular Price .'. $25 00. YOU SAVE $17.00 Offcr Eads January 29, 1989 Come to the Weight Watchers meeting nearest you. PLEASE ARRIVE AT TIMES USTED. BRYAN (409) 4202 846-7793 E. 29th at Rosemary Mon; 9:30 am 5:15 pm Tue: 6:30 pm Wed: 11:30 am 5:00 pm Thun 5:15 pm . Fri: 9:15 am Sat; 10:00 am S JOIN WEIGHT WATCHERS NOW! in bryan call aamaanmumOMUT rmi —»m.irm« twwT wroeas arfmAnoau. ac awtaifnaTCMtMiaTtmuTioaAt iac 'W 846-7793 A basketful of cash is better than a garage full of 'stuff' Have a garage or yard sale this week - Call 845-2611