In the second year of drug testing, administrators and students are looking at how the drug testing policy has affected student life.
Ninety seven percent of students have opted into the testing, which is much higher than Principal Mike Monaghan would have guessed.
After the first year of testing, disciplinary reports are down 18 percent and drug-related hearings are down 70 percent. Hearings are for fights, having 24 discipline points, or having drugs on school property.
Counselor Steve Alexander says, “It seems like there is less people being long-term suspended, and we haven’t heard as much talk of drugs in the halls.”
Students now have fewer tardies and better attendance as well.
Monaghan says, “We believe students’ academic performance and engagement in the classroom has improved directly from our drug testing policy.”
In addition, Monaghan also believes that parents and students both wanting to help with the policy helped for it be successful.