Drug and alcohol testing is about to begin for Claymont’s student athletes.
During Monday’s school board meeting, members voted 3-to-2 to enact a revised policy authorizing random drug and alcohol screenings for students in grades 7 through 12 in sports and other extracurriculars.
A previous board adopted but never implemented the original policy from 2018, which includes escalating penalties for repeat positive tests up to denial of participation for the remainder of the student’s high school career.
School board member Lois Grandison expressed her support.
“If you’re making the choice to play or use drugs or alcohol then you have to know there’s consequences to the choices.”
Board member Martha Campbell felt not moving forward with testing in some form would be a disservice.
“We need to do something whether it’s this actual policy or something, we need to really try to make kids understand the importance [of] we’re not just trying to keep you from doing these things while you’re in high school, we want you to understand this is going to be the rest of your life depending on what your job ends up being.”
One of the no’s came from Solomon Peters, who said he would have been in favor of a voluntary program with rewards for participating students like the one at buckeye career center.
“My concern isn’t with a kid failing multiple times. My concern is the kid failing the first time and not having the support at home to make the comeback after the offense.”
Board president Michelle Wolf voted against enacting the policy, believing more follow through was necessary.
“For me, the policy isn’t complete. We don’t have the in-between. What are we going to do to get the kids the help they need?”
Punishments range from missing the next event or contest to denial of participation for the remainder of the student’s high school career on the fifth offense unless they test negative three times over six months.
Students who may test positive and wanting to remain in extracurriculars must undergo a substance use assessment and follow the counselor’s recommendations. There are no academic consequences.
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