Drug Testing Policy Approved by Ohio School Board

The Lisbon Exempted Village School Board in Ohio has approved the implementation of a drug testing policy in the next academic year.

The school board made the unanimous decision on June 12, with one member absent. With the approval of the policy, students in the 9th through 12th grades who engage in sports and extra-curricular activities, as well as do volunteer work, will undergo drug and alcohol testing (with the consent of their parents) starting next school year.

Athletes will undergo testing at the beginning of each season, and will be subjected to random testing at least once during the season. Those who engage in other extra-curricular activities, on the other hand, will undergo random testing.

Those who fail the drug tests for the first time may choose to do one of two things: undergo drug counseling at his or her own expense while undergoing drug testing for the remainder of the school year, or be denied participation in the sport or extra-curricular activity that they are involved in for the rest of the current season.

A second violation will merit both denial of participation for a minimum of 20% of the season or school year, as well as drug counseling. A third violation, on the other hand, will mean denial from participation for one calendar year, commencing on the date of notification of the violation.

A student who fails drug testing for the fourth time will be permanently denied from participation in athletic and/or extra-curricular activities.