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Wood BOE weighs drug tests

The Wood County Board of Education Tuesday began the process of creating a random drug testing policy for students.

Such a policy could go into effect as early as next school year, but officials said they wanted more information on the cost of the program as well as input from parents and community members in the coming months.

Wood County Schools Superintendent Will Hosaflook shared policies from four West Virginia school systems — Jackson, Cabell, Mingo and Fayette counties — which require random drug testing for “privileged students,” those who participate in programs or receive privileges not required by state law. All four policies were very similar.

Students participating in “any extracurricular or co-curricluar activities” would fall under the policy, Hosaflook said. “If you are an athlete, you drive to school, you’re in choir or band, you’re in” the testing.

Hosaflook estimated roughly 60 percent of the district’s student body would fall under one of those areas. The policy likely would be restricted to the district’s high schools initially, though Hosaflook said Jackson County does random drug testing at its high and middle schools.

Officials emphasized such a policy would not be punitive, but instead would seek to deter students from using drugs and provide help if they test positive. In most of the policies a first offense would involve contacting parents, requiring counseling and the student automatically would be part of the next two tests. Continued drug use would remove the student from the activities and increase counseling requirements.

“This is not disciplining the student academically in the school,” Hosaflook said. “The policy, and it’s very clear, takes the privilege away from the student.”

All participating students would be required to sign a drug-free policy pledge, along with a signature of a parent or guardian giving permission for the testing. If a student would refuse a drug test, they automatically would be removed from the activity or privilege. Likewise if they refused to sign the pledge, they would not be allowed to participate.

Hosaflook said the cost for Jackson County is roughly $35,000 a year for about 200 tests a month.

Random drug testing already is an option for high school students participating in Drug Free Clubs of America or in middle or high school at Williamstown High School through the Drug Free Jackets program. Those programs, however, are voluntary and also require parental consent for participation. There also are fees in those programs to help offset the cost of testing.

Hosaflook said the district’s technical programs, which use the state “simulated workplace” format, also randomly drug test students.

Board members Tuesday seemed largely in favor of implementing a broader drug testing policy. The idea was brought up by board member Debbie Hendershot, who said she had been approached by “numerous parents” who expressed concerns over the area’s drug epidemic.

The board Tuesday also approved purchase of the Pride Survey for $8,500. The annual survey is used to gauge tobacco, alcohol and drug use among students at various ages and grade levels. Hosaflook said that data will be essential if the school system seeks grant money to support random drug testing.

The online survey also touches on areas of attendance, reasons for considering dropping out of school, and other home and environmental factors which may contribute to academic or behavioral issues.

In other business, the board unanimously approved the expulsion of two students due to violation of the state Safe Schools Act. The board met briefly behind closed doors to discuss the items before returning to open session. The names of the students and the details surrounding the expulsions were not made public. The Safe Schools Act governs incidents involving drugs, violence and weapons on school campuses.

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