The 2015-2016 school year marks the implementation of LaBrae's student drug testing program. Throughout the previous school year, the LaBrae Board of Education engaged in ongoing discussion about the value of a student drug testing program for LaBrae Local Schools. Once the Board committed to moving forward with passing a policy permitting the drug testing of students, the administration was charged with developing a testing program. Research on drug testing programs included analyzing programs currently implemented in other schools throughout the Mahoning Valley. Additionally, the administration evaluated drug testing vendors, and Great Lakes BioMedical was approved recently by the Board of Education as the authorized provider of drug testing services.
LaBrae's drug testing program is designed to support students and encourage good decision making. Students who participate on an athletic team in grades 7-12, and student drivers comprise the portion of the student body that will be subject to drug testing. Student-athletes will be required to take one baseline test each year. This test is conducted in the pre-season of the sport in which they first participate in the year. Random tests will be conducted multiple times during the year. Moreover, when the random drug screenings are administered, student drivers are added to the pool of students who are subject to testing. Parents of students who are not participating in a sport, or who do not drive to school, can choose to have their child opt into the random pool. When a parent chooses to opt-in their child, the parent bears the cost of the test if their child is selected for testing. All students and parents are required to complete consent forms for testing.
See the PDF attachment below for greater detail regarding LaBrae's student drug testing program. Should you have any questions regarding the program, please contact Mr. Jeff Starkey, High School Principal, or Mr. Todd Rowe, Assistant Principal/Athletic Director.
