New Jersey Drug Testing
April 21st, 2009Student Drug Testing in New Jersey
The Vernon Township School Board is considering the implementation of a random drug testing program for high school students next year. The program, which will be discussed at a public hearing Thursday, would be similar to others in place in about 25 other New Jersey school districts, school officials said. Last year, Sparta adopted a random drug testing policy but never implemented it. No other county school has such a program.
The program would include students with parking privileges, students participating in co-curricular programs and athletics and students recommended for testing by their parents.
Vernon Township School Sup-
erintendent Anthony Macerino said approximately 600-700 students participate in athletics and co-curricular activities per year and all of the 350-400 seniors are eligible for parking. The high school has about 1,650 students.
Macerino said if the board does approve implementing the testing next September, it then must determine how many and how often the tests would be administered.
Usually districts decide on a percentage of the whole student population, Macerino said, which would determine the number of test kits purchased.
The estimated cost of the program would be about $10,000 to $15,000 per year, assuming the program is administered by existing staff. Two high school nurses would be trained for about $500 and the remaining cost would be the cost of $15 per test kit. The estimated amount of tests and testing would be budgeted in the 2009-10 budget, Macerino said.
While students found with a confirmed positive test will face consequences, they will not be disciplined with suspension and/or expulsion, Macerino said. A draft of the policy says anyone testing positive will be removed from any athletics, co-curricular activities or school clubs, as well as have their parking permit revoked for a minimum period of 30 consecutive school days.
Within a week of a positive result, a participant must begin a minimum of six visits with the student assistance counselor and attend an early intervention program. Parents or guardians will be responsible for the cost of the treatment program.
Random drug testing is separate and apart from the state mandated referral process. All staff members are required by law to refer a student who they observe to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol to an administrator.
Macerino said nearly 50 people attended the first public hearing on the policy earlier this month. He said the crowd was divided on whether or not implementing the program in Vernon is a good idea.
At Thursday’s hearing, specific statistical information about the extent of substance abuse at the high school and the middle school for the past two years will be presented. Chris Steffner, principal of Hunterdon Regional High School, also will be in attendance to share information related to the success of existing programs in the state, including at her school.
The board is not expected to vote on whether to implement the program until around the first of the year.
If the decision is made to implement the program, the board will have to adopt the policy and guidelines. The process would include establishing an implementation date, likely to be July 1, 2009, school officials said.