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Board clarifies random drug‑testing policy for students in extracurricular activities
Summary
Board members sought interpretation of handbook language that says students' names are placed on a random testing roster 'only one time per calendar year'; staff and a board member clarified how the testing contractor selects names and that cause/suspicion testing remains available.
A board member at the June 2 meeting raised concerns about the student drug‑testing language in the handbook, asking whether the phrasing that each covered student's name "will be placed on the random list only one time per calendar year" means a student could be tested only once a year regardless of activity participation.
Board and staff clarified that the district compiles an initial roster of covered students at the start of the school year and submits it to the district's drug‑testing contractor. That roster places each covered student's name on the sampling pool once for the year; the contractor then selects entries anonymously, which spreads selection probability across students. Staff said students involved in multiple activities do not have multiple entries printed to the roster, although their chance of selection can still vary based on sample methodology. The district also retains the right to conduct specific or suspicion‑based testing and to test students again after a positive result.
Meeting participants cited the handbook language that the district "will conduct random unannounced drug testing of up to 25% of all covered students during the course of each calendar year." The transcript records a participant summarizing how Mr. Mayo described the process: the roster is generated at the beginning of the year, numbers are correlated to students, and the contractor draws anonymous numbers to determine who is tested.
