By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
The Ellis USD 388 school board voted during a special meeting on Aug. 16 to suspend implementation of a new random drug testing policy.
The policy was included in the 2024-25 school handbook and was set to take effect this fall. It would have required random drug testing of students participating in Kansas State High School Activities Association activities by an outside firm.
However, parents expressed concerns about a lack of communication about the policy with parents, a lack of a clear implementation plan and cost.
Board member Latisha Haag said the policy was created because of issues with drug use last school year.
"We started this process last January because we had coaches come to us because we have students coming to practices who were clearly under the influence of something," Haag said.
"It was not only hindering that student's participation. It was hindering other students' participation because practices had to stop. At one point, an ambulance had to be called and, on the ride over, that particular coach in the ambulance learned that person was under the influence," she said.
Haag added, “It’s happening in our schools. I don’t think we have a problem, but it’s present. I think that is something we need to make sure people understand.”
The committee that created the policy included administrators, a law enforcement officer, teachers, a coach and a school nurse.
It did not include parents or students.
The drug policy was approved during a special meeting on Aug. 5. Board members said the final vote was delayed because the district was waiting to hire a new high school/junior high principal.
However, the board wanted to approve the policy for inclusion in the student handbook for the 2024-25 school year.
Drug testing was set to apply only to students in KSHAA activities in grades nine through 12. High school parents were emailed to inform them of the new policy.
At the Aug. 16 meeting, some parents said they were not opposed to drug testing, but they wanted to know more about implementation and wished the communication with parents had been better.
Board members said they saw the testing as a deterrent and a way to get students who might have drug issues help.
"It is not meant to punish students. It is meant as a deterrent if there is a problem to identify it and to provide that student help," board member Brain Shannon said.
Parents expressed concerns about student privacy and cost.
According to the board, only a school administrator, the testing company, the student and the student's parents would have access to the test results.
The estimated test costs were $60 to $70 per student.
The board had not yet determined what substances it would test for. However, they said it would not include alcohol or nicotine.
Shannon said law enforcement would only be contacted if a student was found in possession of illegal substances on school property.
“If we have one student using drugs, it’s a problem. It’s not a pandemic. Do we wait until there are 10 students before we address it? Do we wait until there are 50 students before we address it?" he said.
Although Haag ultimately voted with the board to suspend the testing's implementation, she said she thought it should not be postponed until next year.
“We have been looking at this since last December. We did not do this willy-nilly. We started talking to people and asking questions clear back in January,” she said. “If you watch the board meetings, they’re on there.”
Board member Cindy Hertel said she thought the district should wait to start the testing.
“We have a small enough school that there are very few students this is not going to touch,” she said. “It’s not targeted toward athletes. It’s to keep people from doing it. I also understand that we need more answers.”
No timeline was given for when the policy would be implemented.
Below is the full Ellis public school substance abuse policy, including the section on random drug testing.
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ATHLETIC AND ACTIVITY SUBSTANCE ABUSE POLICY:
*Possession or use of alcohol, tobacco, illegal drugs, and other controlled substances.
- Students involved in school sponsored athletic programs or non-athletic extracurricular student organizations are subject to this policy, which applies to those students 24 hours per day, any place, and between seasons. The consequences will apply to both athletic and all non-athletic organizations. This policy may not cover every possible scenario. Some interpretation will be left up to the coach/sponsor and administration.
- Use and/or possession or promotion of any tobacco product or nicotine delivery device by students is prohibited in any district facility; in school vehicles; at school-sponsored activities, programs or events; and on school owned or operated property.
- Violations are to be substantiated by law enforcement, faculty/staff member, school administration, social-networking sites or other sources deemed credible by the following 3 people, coach/sponsor of sport or organization, Principal/AD.
- It is a violation of this policy to be under the influence of, in possession of, using, distributing, selling, or attempting to sell any of the substances or devices listed above. Violations are subject to disciplinary action and/or legal action as determined by the administration. It is not a violation for a student to be in possession of a drug specifically prescribed for a student’s own use by his or her own doctor.
- Students who are concerned about their substance abuse and voluntarily notify faculty or staff will not be subject to disciplinary action. Confidentiality will be observed while seeking and finding support for such a student. Self-disclosure may be utilized once to avoid disciplinary action and must be made prior to determination they have violated this policy.
- Consequence of offenses:
- FIRST OFFENSE:
- HS Football – 1 game HS Volleyball – 3 matches
- HS Basketball – 2 games HS Track – 1 meet
- HS Baseball/Softball – 2 games Wrestling – 1 event
- Cross Country – 1 event Golf – 1 Event
- HS Cheerleading* -will coincide with the event in which the season currently is in, i.e Football – 1 game, HS Basketball – 2 games, etc.**
*Cheerleading is classified by KSHSAA as a sport during an athletic season and an organization when no cheering sports are in season.
** A cheering event is one night of cheering regardless of how many games are included.
During this period of ineligibility, the student will practice and participate in team activities/meetings. The student may attend competitions at the coach’s discretion but will not dress out.
Non-Athletic – the student will lose eligibility through the next major event sponsored or attended by the organization. During this time the student will attend organizational meetings and participate in fundraising events.
Students will also miss the next major social event i.e. Homecoming, Snoball, Prom or other school events as determined by administration. Officers of an organization violating this policy will be removed from office, but not the organization.
In the event that more than one organization is involved, the sponsors will meet to determine the consequences.
The organizations’ sponsors shall be responsible for determining “major events”.
SECOND OFFENSE
Athletic – the student will be ineligible to participate in athletics for the remainder of the year (ALL SPORTS)
Non-Athletic – The student will be dismissed from ALL non-athletic student organizations for the remainder of the school year and not be allowed to attend all remaining social events. (i.e. Prom, Homecoming, etc.)
SCHOOL DAY RELATED CONSEQUENCES
In addition to consequences from KSHSAA Activities, students will also be subject to the following academic consequences related to the school day;
1st Offense – 1 day ISS
2nd Offense – 2 days OSS
3rd Offense – Possible Expulsion
RANDOM DRUG TESTING
The USD 388 Board of Education, in an effort to protect the health and safety of its students involved in KSHSAA sponsored extracurricular activities from illegal drug and alcohol use and abuse or injuries resulting from the use of illegal drugs and or alcohol has adopted a policy for drug testing of students participating in KSHSAA sponsored extracurricular activities.
KSHSAA Sponsored Extracurricular Activities – School-sponsored activities including:
- Grades 9-12 competitive athletic teams, including, but not limited to: boys/girls cross country, football, boys/girls basketball, wrestling, baseball, volleyball, softball, boys/girls track & field, Powerlifting and other athletics as specified by the Board of Education.
- Grades 9-12 noncompetitive extracurricular activities including, but not limited to, cheerleading, forensics, band, orchestra, vocal music, National Honor Society, Student Council, scholar’s bowl, FBLA, TSA and other activities as specified by the Board of Education.
The above list of KSHSAA sponsored extracurricular activities will be prepared by the building principal and may be modified as determined by the building principal.
The complete policy may be viewed at www.usd388.com.