Oregon High School Approves Random Drug Tests For Athletes

June 27, 2013 /
theworldlink.com

http://theworldlink.com/news/local/bandon-high-school-drug-tests-will-start-this-fall/article_ea1b0a6e-df40-11e2-81bf-0019bb2963f4.html

A new test awaits Bandon High School students when they return to classrooms this fall.

During its regular meeting this week, the Bandon School Board unanimously approved a random athletic drug screening program. The policy would apply to all students who participate in Oregon School Activity Association-governed extracurricular athletics and activities at BHS, including all sports, band, choir, cheer, dance and speech teams.

The board has discussed the new policy for more than a year and has held two public forums, as well as surveyed BHS students and the community.

Monday night, BHS Athletic Director James Freitag detailed for the board the changes he and the administration have made in response to community concerns about the policy’s wording.

“Since drug, alcohol and tobacco use is illegal and interferes with both effective learning and the healthy development of children and adolescents, the school has a fundamental legal and ethical obligation to prevent drug use and to maintain drug-free environments,” the policy states.

The goal is not only to provide a safe environment for all students, but also to prevent and reduce the use of illegal drugs among all BHS students by focusing on those involved in athletics and activities, who often set an example for other students, Freitag has said at previous meetings.

Students would be screened prior to their first activity of the year, then could be tested randomly thereafter during that or any subsequent activities they might participate.


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