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Board reviews updates to drug-testing and student-admission policies
Summary
The board discussed policy language changes: routine pre-hire drug-testing language was removed (district retains drug-free workplace policy and reasonable-suspicion testing, and tests employees who operate vehicles/heavy machinery); admission rules were adjusted to remove an alternative certificate while retaining a certificate of attendance and to allow superintendent-level denials for students expelled elsewhere.
District staff presented two policy changes for the board's consideration. On drug testing, staff explained they removed pre-hire drug-testing language adopted during COVID and clarified current practice: employees operating vehicles or heavy machinery are screened and the district can require testing based on reasonable suspicion, with deputy or trained personnel available to assist in evaluations. Staff noted union agreements limit unilateral changes and that some testing patterns were revised because of legal and financial constraints.
On admission policy, staff explained the district will no longer issue an 'alternative certificate' but will retain a certificate of attendance; the policy change also shifts some admission-denial determinations (for students expelled from other districts) to a superintendent-level decision rather than requiring board action. Board members asked how often expulsions-from-other-districts occur; staff and board members said it is rare and that cases involve communication between districts and families.
