J-M considers drug testing

JEFFERSON – Jefferson-Morgan School Board asked district administrators Monday to investigate developing a policy requiring drug screenings for new employees and students participating in extracurricular activities.
The motion was presented by board member Mark Pochron, who said the board has talked for some time about having drug screening as part of the district’s pre-employment requirements.
In light of discipline approved by the board earlier in the meeting for a drug-related incident involving a student, Pochron said he also wanted the district to go a step further and look into requiring screenings, and possibly random drug testing, for students participating in extracurricular activities.
Board President Donna Brown later agreed the board should investigate such policy, which it has discussed in the past. “Drugs are getting more rampant,” she said.
Pochron and Superintendent Donna Furnier discussed who would be responsible for paying for the costs of the screenings. If it were decided the district will pay the costs for the students, Pochron said, the board will want to consider adding money to next year’s budget.
The board also discussed whether the tests would be given to just athletes or to students participating in other activities such as clubs.
Furnier said she knows of other districts that have included drug screening as part of their required pre-employment physical and would look at policies adopted by other districts as well as information from the Pennsylvania School Board Associations.
Furnier also said she recently talked with representatives of a new occupational medicine provider in the county and the provider could possibly be used for pre-employment testing to ensure consistency among applicants.