The Hawaii Board of Education voted unanimously this week to reject Gov. Linda Lingle's plan to require school teachers to submit to random drug tests, leading Lingle to threaten to repeal pay raises for teachers unless the board reconsiders, the Honolulu Star-Bulletin reported Jan. 26.

The teachers' union last year signed a contract that included the drug-testing provision.

The call for drug testing in Hawaii arose from a number of high-profile incidents of teachers using illicit drugs. "We cannot effectuate this contract unless the conditions are carried out," Lingle said. "This was agreed to by both sides."

Lingle contends that the state's Education Department has $30 million available to fund the testing program, but board chair Donna Ikeda disputed that assertion.

Lingle predicted that the teachers' union would pressure the school board to approve drug testing rather than losing the raises included in their new contract. Under the terms of the agreement, a random drug-testing regimen would be in place by June 30.

Even if the teachers, the board and the state agree on a compromise, the Hawaii chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union is promising to sue over the drug-testing plan, saying that it violates teachers' privacy rights.