School board votes to support drug-testing

The Marion County Board of Education unanimously voted Tuesday evening, March 8, to adopt a resolution for a drug-testing program at Marion County High School for the 2011-12 school year.

Currently, 92 school districts in the state have drug-testing programs in place.

How that drug-testing program will be implemented hasn't yet been decided, however. Passing the resolution was just the first step.

"This is just getting it started," Board Member DeLane Pinkston said.

The next step will be for the board to form a committee to create the specific drug testing policies and procedures.

Board member Mike Cecil said he would like the program to also include the middle schools, but that will be decided in the future after the board forms its committee and develops its policies, procedures and protocols.

"Let's get this implemented and then we'll discuss expanding the program," Board Chairman Michael Mullins said.

The Marion County Heartland Safe Community Coalition (which will be paying for the drug-testing program) proposed a random voluntary policy, but the board can decide to go another direction if it so chooses. For instance, the board can make the program be voluntary in nature, or it can target specific groups of students, such as students involved in athletics, extracurricular activities or all students that drive to school.

Currently, 92 school districts in the state have drug-testing programs in place (see chart).