S. Dearborn Schools Approve Student Drug Testing

Thursday, December 12, 2013 at 6:28 AM

By Mike Perleberg

South Dearborn Community School's Board of School Trustees approved a new random drug testing policy for high school and middle school students on Monday, December 9.

Mike Perleberg, Eagle 99.3

(Aurora, Ind.) - Some South Dearborn Community Schools students could be prevented from driving to school or playing school sports if they flunk a drug test, starting next school year.

The South Dearborn Board of School Trustees voted 7-0 on Monday, December 9 to approve the district’s first student drug testing policy in several years.

Superintendent John Mehrle tells Eagle 99.3 that the program modeled after those at Lawrenceburg Community Schools and other area school districts is meant to be preventative, not punitive.

“We’re trying to identify people who need help,” Mehrle said.

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Under the policy, students in grades 7-12 who participate in extracurricular activities or drive themselves to school will be subject to random testing. Those who test positive won’t be expelled or suspended, but their parents will be notified and they’ll be held out of extracurriculars.

Coaches or club sponsors will require that each student attend one or more drug education sessions as a condition of playing or participating. Those students and their parents must also sign a consent form.

On occasions throughout the school year, administrators will use a variable schedule to determine when a round of urine testing will take place. From the pool of eligible students, a list of those to be tested will be randomly selected. The students will have no advance notice of the testing.

Administrators may also ask parents for permission to testing a specific student in some situations, such as excessive discipline problems or absences. A parent can also request that the school test their child.

The drug testing idea was floated earlier this year. Mehrle said a community survey showed just how much support there was for it. With over 400 responses from staff, students, parents, and community members, more than 80 percent supported the testing proposal.

You can view a copy of South Dearborn Community Schools’ new drug testing policy online here (PDF).