The following was released to the Salmon Recorder Herald today, October 28th.

For Immediate Release – October 28, 2010
Salmon High School Student Drug Testing

Tuesday, October 26th, random drug testing resumed for students involved in extracurricular activities at Salmon High School. This round of testing produced a small number of “positive” test results for tobacco. No other positives were recorded. Included in the random testing pool were varsity football players, cross country runners, student body officers and cheerleaders.
Upon notification of activity suspensions consistent with district policy, we once again experienced a number of challenges to our policy. One challenge has been upheld: The Drug Testing Consent Form language grants permission “to test for drugs and alcohol use.” It does not explicitly mention tobacco. This language has been changed for all winter sports, and parents of students participating in on-going or upcoming extracurricular activities will be required to sign the new consent form.
On September 13th, Superintendent Foote presented a memorandum to the Board of Trustees outlining inconsistencies in our drug testing policy. It also outlined remedies for those inconsistencies. On September 15th, Superintendent Foote met in a general student body assembly and corrected information in the Student Handbook and clarified the district drug testing policy, emphasizing the inclusion of tobacco in upcoming drug testing. Students would be given 30 days to clear their systems prior to testing being resumed. On September 16th, the above mentioned memo was published in the Recorder Herald. On September 28th, Superintendent Foote posted the revision information on his blog [salmonfootenotes.blogspot.com], including the reinstatement of testing to begin some time soon after October 15th.
Given this notification, students were well aware of upcoming testing. Based on the successful challenge of our consent form, we cannot require that students who tested positive be excluded from extracurricular participation (sports activities.) However, it is within parents’ rights to hold their individual students accountable for the positive test results, excluding them from participating in sports or other extracurricular activities as would be expected for such a test result.
Students who tested positive will be required to complete a “cessation” course and will be re-tested prior to participation in other activities as per current policy.
We wish to recognize all students who tested clean and who continue to bring honor to themselves and Salmon High School by upholding the law. We especially celebrate those students who decided to “go clean” and had the determination to stick with that decision. Way to go Salmon Savages!

I strongly support parents who exercise their parental rights to exclude their students from this week's game, respecting both the law and the district's zero tolerance policy. Students knew the consequences.