Shore Regional Says Its Random Drug Testing Policy Promotes 'Positive and Safe Climate'

While other school districts such as the Lacey Township School District consider its implementation, Shore Regional High School says its pre-existing random drug testing is working well.

According to the Drug-Free Projects Coalition, Inc., a nonprofit that advocates for drug testing in schools, there is a correlation between drug use and poor academic achievement.

A 2008 review and analysis of school report card data shows that Clearview, Nutley and Shore Regional each have higher graduation and lower drop-out rates in addition to higher average math and language arts scores on the SATs than Lacey Township High School.

In 2005, Shore Regional High School implemented random drug testing. The superintendent proposed the program after the Drug Enforcement Agency did a presentation in 2004, said Student Assistance Counselor Jennifer Czajkowski.

Research was conducted, and presentations on the program were made at faculty and parent meetings. Meeting minimal parent resistance, the Board of Education sought legal advisement and eventually approved a policy.

“Parents in the community were and continue to be supportive of the program,” she said, adding that random drug testing promotes a “positive and safe climate” in the school and helps facilitate refusal skills for peer pressure.

“Additionally, it can be used as a tool for intervention to identify those who may have a substance issue so they can get the help they need,” she said.

With $9,600 budgeted for random drug testing a year, the process is conducted by the nurse and student assistance counselors, which can be time consuming and a challenge, she said.

Positive test results are sent to a medical review doctor for review and investigation. Parents are contacted, and if necessary, the prescribing physician. The student is then sent to a facility to be retested and seen by a doctor to be cleared to be in school.

“We require the student to have a substance abuse evaluation and they also meet with our student assistance counselor in school,” she said. “Lastly, they are removed from their team, extracurricular activity or parking on campus for a period of 30 days.”

At the end of the 30 days, the student is re-tested in school.

Czajkowski said that approximately 0.95 percent of the eligible students test positive.