FAQs

A: We are not blind to the realities of adolescent and teenage alcohol and drug use/abuse. Our hope is to deter use and provide students with a tangible reason to resist peer pressure to take drugs. Random drug and alcohol testing makes students stop and think before they decide to partake in reckless behavior. Secondly, drug testing can identify students who have started using illicit drugs and would benefit from early intervention, as well as identify those who already have drug problems and need a referral to treatment. It is important that our parents understand that alcohol and drug use not only interferes with our student's ability to learn, but it can also disrupt the teaching and learning enviornment, affecting innocent students. Lastly, random alcohol and drug testing gives our students a tangible reason to say 'no' when peer pressure begins to mount. It is difficult for a kid to 'Just Say No' without being faced with even more pressure to experiment. It is now plausible for a student to say 'No' I want to perform in this year's musical or I play on the baseball team and don't want to jeopardize that.

A: Urine analysis will be used to detect alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, amphetamines, phencyclidine (PCP), and opioids (both heroin and prescription pain killers). A detailed list is included in our parent consent form.

A: In June 2002, the U.S. Supreme Court broadened the authority of public schools to test students for illegal drugs. The court ruled to allow random drug tests for all middle and high school students participating in competitive extracurricular activities. The ruling greatly expanded the scope of school drug testing, which previously had been allowed only for student athletes.

A: No. Students in grades seven through twelve who participate in Kingsway's interscholastic athletic program, participate in extra-curricular programs, and/or receive a school-issued parking permit to drive/park a personal vehicle on school district property will be required to sign the Consent to Participate in Random Testing for Student Alcohol or Other Drug Use Program. By signing the consent form, students agree to participate in the program for a period of twelve months, regardless of whether the activity they participate in is out-of-season.

A: You do not have to provide consent. However, students whose parents do not consent to participate in random testing for student alcohol or other drug use will not be permitted to participate in interscholastic athletic programs, and extra-curricular activities or attain student driving permits.

A: This policy is not designed to punish students but rather provide education, support and guidance. Students who fail a drug test as a result of our random alcohol and drug testing policy, will not have the results added to their student record nor will the results be shared with law enforcement and/or shared with institutions of higher learning. The summary of remedial measures can be found here.

A: Students participating in our random testing for student alcohol or other drug program will not be penalized if found to be using. Instead, the records will remain confidential and the students will be required to participate in additional testing as well as mandatory counseling with our student assistance coordinator. The results of these tests will not be shared with local law enforcement nor will formal complaints be filed for students under the influence, if discovered through this program.

A: Students who are discovered to be under the influence, outside of the random drug testing program, will be subject to the consequences established through our student code of conduct. Students soliciting and/or in possession of alcohol, drugs or drug paraphernalia may have formal complaints filed against them, as we have always done, if the circumstances give us reason to believe the student had an intent to distribute. Students found to be distributing alcohol, drugs and/or drug paraphernalia will be formally charged for distributing illegal and dangerous substances on school grounds.