High School Drug Testing

The Salmon community has determined that students participating in extra-curricular activities should be tested for controlled substances. This was not a decision by the current (or former) High School principal. It was not a decision by the current (or former) District Superintendent. The decision to test students for the presence of controlled substances was made by YOU, the community of Salmon through your elected Board of Trustees.

As current District Superintendent, it falls on me to administer your policies. As previously published and publicly declared, the District has NOT been consistent in following thorough on the testing policy. That declaration was accompanied by a commitment to consistency in seeing that both initial testing and random testing be conducted as required by policy. Students were given notice on September 15th that ALL participants in extra-curricular activities would be tested, and that their ability to continue to participate would be based on ‘clean’ or ‘negative’ test results. Most accepted this notice with resign. Several commented that we wouldn’t really test them, and surely wouldn’t kick them off teams. Parents have contacted the High School and District offices, concerned about the consequences of a ‘positive’ test. Those consequences are and have been in the student handbook. Yes, we will test. Yes, there will be consequences as prescribed in policy. Students who are ‘clean’ or who chose to ‘go clean’ when given notice have nothing to worry about. The initial test will not take place until sometime after the 15th of October (30 days from when notice of policy enforcement was provided.)

If you have concerns about testing procedures, please give me a call. If you have concerns about the testing policy, contact the Board Trustee for your zone. It is our intent to be open and responsive to YOU, the Salmon community!