The Kingsport City Schools Board of Education unanimously passed a new drug testing policy for students involved in extracurricular activities at last week’s regular school board meeting.
According to the new district policy provided to Tennessee Firefly, high school students involved in activities like athletics, student clubs, student leadership positions and band will be subject to random drug tests. The policy guidelines say that tests will be conducted in the presence of a witness, usually a school administrator or other district designee. The policy noted that students who test positive for drug use after a random test will not be automatically suspended or expelled from school solely over the test results, but added that the goal is to maintain order, discipline, student wellbeing and safety in the district.
Officials briefly discussed how they believe the policy will help save students’ lives in the long run, as more and more reports across the country surface about deaths related to drugs containing or laced with the powerful opioid fentanyl.
“I am confident this is going to improve safety and health in our schools,” board member Tim Dean said during the meeting, adding that the new policy is the result of a “four-month conversation” between board members about whether and how the district should approach student drug testing.
Following the passage of the new policy, the board voted 4-1 to adopt new guidelines that further clarify drug testing protocols. Among the procedures, testing will be conducted on 10 random school days each year that are chosen by the superintendent. At least 20 students, plus some students who have failed tests previously, will be subject to random testing, according to officials. The tests look for 12 types of psychoactives, including cannabis and opioids.
Furthermore, the policy says students who fail one drug test will be suspended from extracurricular activities for 14 days, while the second and third positive results will lead to a 180-day and full-year suspension from activities respectively.
Assistant Superintendent Andy True said the new policy was based on recommendations from the Tennessee School Boards Association and is “similar to what has been adopted by a majority of districts in Tennessee.” The policy will go into effect next school year.
