Rowan County board directs creation of stakeholder committee to review student and staff drug-testing policy

The Rowan County Board of Education on Nov. 18 directed the superintendent to convene a diverse stakeholder committee to review the district—s student and staff drug-testing policy.

The move followed a board discussion in which Superintendent Rowe said the Kentucky School Board Association does not provide a model drug-testing policy and that the board—s legal counsel advised the decision is a local one. "KSBA does not offer a model policy for drug testing," Rowe said, summarizing the guidance he had received from legal counsel and neighboring districts.

Trustees described mixed views among respondents to surveys of students, staff, parents and the wider community. One board member who spoke during the discussion said parents, staff and students leaned slightly toward supporting some form of testing but warned the current policy may be outdated and inconsistently implemented.

Board members raised several specific concerns: which student subgroups would be included (the current policy applies to students in competitive extracurriculars and to student drivers), which substances would be tested for (trustees singled out THC and medical marijuana as complicating factors), the cost of different testing panels, and the potential disciplinary impact on students who rely on extracurriculars as their primary school engagement. "If a student loses extracurricular eligibility after a positive test, that consequence travels home," said Board Member 1.

Trustees voted to direct the superintendent to form the committee, recommending it include principals, teachers, central-office staff, a diverse student representation and community members; the board chair would appoint board members to serve. The board asked the superintendent to return with recommendations and a timeline, noting that work could continue over the winter with substantive discussion resuming in January.

The board did not rescind or adopt a new policy at the meeting; instead officials chose a fact-finding and stakeholder-engagement approach. The motion carried by voice vote with no roll-call tallies announced.

Next steps: Superintendent Rowe will assemble the committee and report back to the board with proposed membership and a schedule for meetings and public input.