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Board considers student drug-testing changes: cheek swabs, new penalties for first offenses
Summary
Board reviewed updates to Policy 55301: district will move from urine tests to cheek swabs administered by a vendor; first‑offense athletic punishments will be 10% of the season and drivers lose privileges for 30 days, with second offenses carrying steeper penalties and follow‑up tests every 30 days instead of 14.
The superintendent presented revisions to student drug‑testing policy 55301, noting the district will change from urine testing to vendor‑administered cheek swabs so testing can be faster and less intrusive. "It won't be as easily ... pampered with from the students' perspective — it'll be an instant we won't have to give them water and wait," the superintendent said, adding the vendor is the same company used for bus‑driver testing.
The policy changes add consequences for first offenses: athletic participants would miss 10% of their season (the number of games varies by sport), and student drivers would lose driving privileges for 30 days; a second offense would result in loss of driving privileges for the rest of the year and follow the prior second‑offense penalties. The superintendent said the second test interval will move from 14 days to 30 days because cheek‑swab detection windows differ from urine testing. The board discussed notification of current athletes and coaching staff’s role in informing families; the superintendent said coaches will discuss the policy at preseason meetings and that parents and students sign consent agreements as part of driving and participation forms.
