Lowellville schools looks into more aggressive drug-testing policy

By EMMALEE C. TORISK

etorisk@vindy.com

LOWELLVILLE

Times sure have changed.

Or so says Jared Van Kirk, K-12 principal at Lowellville schools.

He cited the ease of purchasing drugs, along with the paraphernalia used to store and consume them, online as one example. That’s why it’s imperative for the school district to take a proactive stance toward keeping its students safe.

“We want to work with our parents and do what we can for our kids,” Van Kirk said. “We want to stay one step ahead of the providers.”

Van Kirk explained that Lowellville schools already has a fairly all-encompassing policy for drug testing its students. The policy, in place for the past couple of years, mandates that students involved in athletics and in any co-curricular activities must participate in the drug-testing program.

Almost everyone — from cheerleaders, to volleyball players, to art club members — is involved, and Van Kirk estimated that between 70 and 80 percent of the student body is covered by the existing policy.

The district is looking into adding students who drive to school to that policy, as well.

“We’re trying to help them, not punish them,” Van Kirk said. “There’s always a chance they’re going to be tested, so hopefully that deters them from drinking or doing drugs.”

Van Kirk added that “sometimes, kids make mistakes,” but that their testing positive for drugs or alcohol could help to get “them on the right path.”

Testing is random — a computer program selects who will be tested — and each student is tested “once a season at minimum,” Van Kirk said, noting that students can be tested “as much as we want.” What is tested for changes with each test and is kept confidential.

According to the high school’s 2014-15 student/parent handbook, if an athlete tests positive for the presence of drugs and it is a first offense, he or she will be presented with two options: participation in a six-week assistance program that includes a weekly drug test, or suspension from athletics for the remainder of the current season and the next athletic season.

Van Kirk said it’s likely that every school eventually will have some type of drug-testing policy. Most in the Lowellville school community, such as parents and even students, seem to be in favor of amending the existing policy to include more of the school population. They’ve also responded positively to recent drug-education speakers, such as Bob Anastas, founder of Students Against Destructive Decisions, and sessions such as “In Plain Sight,” sponsored by the Lowellville Police Department. Hosting those speakers and sessions is a trend that will continue, Van Kirk noted.

“The goal is that everybody’s drug and alcohol free,” he said. “Even if it’s one or two kids [who are under the influence of drugs and alcohol], that’s too many.”

Christine Sawicki, K-12 assistant principal who is in her first year at the post, added that Lowellville’s having a very strong drug-testing policy was attractive — and definitely a “good thing.”