MONROE — Members of the Monroe Board of Education voted Monday to keep the drug testing policy instituted at the beginning of the 2018-19 school year after reconsidering it as part of a newly constructed policy system adopted by the district.
Unlike the adoption of NEOLA policies undertaken by the district to update procedures and guidelines through a contracted company, the random suspicionless drug testing of students and search and seizure policies were decided on separate votes from their numbers. For example, all policies regarding professional stuff were included in group 3000 and support stuff in group 4000.
Drug testing will be incorporated into the 5000 group.
There was no discussion on search and seizure policy 5771, though at the first reading considering the measure, board members discussed how police searches took place with District Administrator Rick Waski. He outlined how drug dogs will search a group of lockers and notified members that the district can more easily search students’ lockers and belongings than police officers can. If they find certain substances or items, they then contact the police department.
Board President Dan Bartholf said members passed the policy unanimously.
The random drug testing policy has elicited more criticism from the public. In order for students to take part in activities like theater, organizations like Future Business Leaders of America or participate in any sport, they must have their parents sign an agreement to be picked at random to be drug tested during the school year. If parents and students do not sign the contract, the student is not allowed to take part in extracurricular activities.
School officials note the tests are done completely anonymously, with numbers being chosen at random. The numbers each line up with a name and the students are called out of a free morning period to be tested without being notified why until they enter another room and have the process explained to them by experts conducting the test.
The drug test through Monroe Clinic includes nine panel looking to find the presence of amphetamines, cocaine, marijuana, opiates, barbiturates, benzodiazepines like Xanax or Valium, methadone, the pain reliever narcotic propoxyphene, and phencyclidine, which is commonly referred to as PCP. Students are also tested for nicotine use.
At a Policy Committee meeting May 13, Activities Director Jeff Newcomer said 61 students had been selected of a pool of more than 420. Of those students, two have tested positive for nicotine, which Newcomer said was found to be the result of vaping.
Newcomer said it is hard to note a trend in a single year, but the number of students in sports has not declined. He did not have figures on students who take part in academic clubs or activities.
Each test is a cost of roughly $40 per student. Newcomer said the funding of nearly $2,000 is provided through the athletics and activities accounts, which reduces the amount of money available for equipment.
Monroe football coach Toby Golembieski spoke during public comment in favor of continuing the drug testing policy. Bartholf said after some discussion among members, which according to unofficial minutes, included support for the policy to evaluate more results and to implement education and improve resources, the board voted 7-2 in favor of adopting the policy again. Board members Cheryl McGuire and Dylan McGuire voted against its continuation.