Marijuana Policy Project

At last week's regular meeting of the Taylor County School Board, Debbie Hinton, a Taylor County High School teacher and member of the school culture committee, asked Board members to consider such a policy, which she says will curb drug use.

"Research has shown that random drug testing has diminished drug use in middle and high schools up to 85 percent," she said.

In addition, Hinton said, the possibility of being tested gives students an easy way to say "No" to peer pressure.

Currently, Campbellsville Independent Schools randomly tests its athletes. Taylor County Schools has never implemented drug testing, though some of its athletes have volunteered for the test in past years.

As of last May, Hinton said, 81 Kentucky schools conduct some type of drug testing. Of those schools, half have random drug testing. Of the counties that border Taylor, only Casey and Green conduct drug testing in at least one school.

While TCHS' school culture committee is looking at a drug testing policy, Hinton asked that a committee of high school, middle school and central office staff be appointed to form a district-wide policy.

It's important that the policy be district-wide and not just at the high school, said Karen Hayes, project director of the Campbellsville/Taylor County Anti-Drug Coalition.

"Drug use begins at 12 years old," Hayes said. "This is why the policy needs to be district-wide."

With the easy availability of prescription drugs, Hayes said, more children may be exposed to drug use. The earlier they begin to use drugs, she said, the more likely they are to move on to harder drugs later in life.

Hayes presented findings of the 2006 Kentucky Incentives for Prevention survey, which suggests 7 percent of Taylor County's eighth graders and 18 percent of Taylor County's seniors have tried marijuana. As for prescription abuse, 8 percent of eighth graders and 15 percent of seniors say they've taken medicine not prescribed for them.

Taylor County School Board Chairman Tony Davis said some students fake their answers, seeking to impress other students. Because of this, Davis suggested, the KIP data isn't an accurate reflection of drug use.

However, Hayes said, students do not have an opportunity to share their answers with their peers. After completing the survey, they immediately seal it and place it in an envelope.

As for those who simply circle answers without reading the questions, a few questions appear more than once and are worded differently each time.

There is also a measure to identify students who falsely answer the survey as if they've taken several drugs. Hayes said one question asks students if they've used a particular prescription drug. That drug, she said, isn't real.

How students respond to these questions, Hayes said, determines whether or not their survey results are discarded.

TCMS Principal C.D. Harvey said drug use is a growing problem.

"We are seeing more and more drug-related activity at Taylor County Middle School. Custodians are finding drugs on the school grounds. It's not just a school problem, it's a community problem."

If a random drug-testing policy is implemented, only students who participate in extracurricular activities, such as sports and clubs, would be placed into the testing pool. The Supreme Court, Hinton said, will not allow the general student population to be tested, only those participating in voluntary activities.

While this means every student cannot be tested, Hinton said, most will. About 80 percent of Taylor County Schools' students participate in an extracurricular activity, she said.

The test results have no application to academics or law enforcement. A student who tests positive for drugs is only limited or prohibited from participating in extracurricular activities.

According to the Kentucky School Boards Association, as long as a student does not violate another school rule, the student will not face school discipline and will not have their grades or academic standing affected.

The only way legal repercussions could occur, Hinton said, is if the student brings drugs to school.

"If they have drugs on them, that is a violation."

If a student tests positive, a follow-up would be performed to determine if the student is on any type of medication.

The process would be completely random, Hinton said. The labs performing the test would not know the names of the students. Samples would only be identified by a number. Only school officials would know which student corresponds to which number.

Hinton said Premier Drug Testing in Russell Springs would test 15 percent of the students in the pool three times a year for $25 per test. Bluegrass Drug Testing in Campbellsville will do the same. Taylor County Anti-Drug Coalition will donate $1,000 for testing, she said.

There are several methods of testing, Hinton said, but the committee would likely recommend a urine test.

Davis said if a plan is put in writing, the Board would forward it to the Kentucky School Boards Association for review.

The Board also appointed a committee of representatives from the middle school, the high school and central office.