lcramer posted on May 20, 2011 14:21
A draft of the chemical health (drug testing) policy was submitted on April 25 to the Findlay City Schools Board Policy Committee, a group that consults with lawyers about policies and then either makes recommendations for changes or sends them on to the board of education for approval.
The Drug Testing Committee has recommended that 20 percent of all eligible students be tested each season.
The estimated cost of this is $10,608 per year. Tentative support has been offered by one of the booster organizations, which, along with a raise in the parking permit fee from $30 to $35, will pay all but about $2000, which will be covered with grant money.
The fine for parking without a permit will also be raised from $20 to $35.
“Any student who holds a parking permit is eligible for testing, so they will help pay for it,” principal Victoria Swartz said. “If a student doesn’t want to participate in drug testing, they can give up the privilege of parking here.”
According to Swartz, many students will be included because they have parking permits.
“There’s no way to put a picture up showing what a kid who uses drugs looks like,” Swartz said. “Anyone can make a mistake and we want to help as many kids as we can.”
Another way for students to be included is that parents would be able to opt in for their child by paying $17.
“Our goal is to help as many students as possible and the opt-in program provides us with an opportunity to help students who may not be in the testing pool,” athletic director Nate Weihrauch said.
In accordance with the law, students in marching band (choir, etc.) cannot legally be tested because they are part of a graded class.
“Although we can’t test students for being in band, 75 percent of upperclassmen band members will be tested anyway because they are involved in another extracurricular, play a sport or hold a parking permit,” Swartz said.