Random Drug Test Positives Up at WDHS, Still Low Overall

Positive tests in 's random drug testing program were up this year versus prior years, but the overall percentage of positives dropped, according to the annual report given by Superintendent Kevin Kitchenman Monday night.

Out of 245 kids tested, 11 tests turned up positive for drug use, , Kitchenman said, adding that out of those 11, three students tested positive due to retesting from a previous positive test.

That led to a decline in the percentage of students in the program who tested positive, Kitchenman said. While 6 percent of students tested positive last year, only 3.7 percent tested positive this year, he said.

Kitchenman attributed the drop in students testing positive to drugs from last year to the effectiveness of the message the program is sending.   

“[The program] is to give students another reason to just say 'no,' ” Kitchenman said. He argued the results show the program remains a success.

Since the program began four years ago, 15-18 students are selected randomly from a pool every two weeks during the school year. Once selected, students are tested for any drugs that may be present in their system.

If a student tests positive, they face a 15-day suspension from any extracurricular activities and mandatory counseling. Additionally, a student cannot return to their extracurricular activities until submitting a clean test.  

Students eligible for selection include those participating in extracurricular activities, students with school parking privileges and students whose parents opt them into the program. Kitchenman said there are currently about 500 students in the pool for random drug tests.           

Kitchenman has stated previously that the intention of this program is to deter students in participating in recreational drugs because of the consequences it may bring.       

Currently, the school does not test for the use of steroids, due to prohibitive additional costs. The random drug testing program currently costs the school around $10,000 each year.