An update to the school district’s drug testing policy was approved last Monday by the Kingfisher Board of Education.

The update was made largely to prevent students from taking advantage of some cracks in the previous policy, according to KHS Principal John Harris.

“We were kind of exposed a little bit last year with some loopholes in there that we kind of got taken advantage of,” Harris told board members in making the proposal.

Drug testing is performed once a month as 15 high school and 10 junior high students are randomly selected from a “computerized configuration,” Harris said.

“We had a situation arise more than once where - with our cellular devices - word got around that we were pulling kids and testing and all the sudden there were some kids that vacated the area,” Harris said.

One of the changes in the policy states “if a student leaves once the drug testing process has started, under administrative dis- cretion, the student(s) will be considered a failed drug test and automatically moved to a third offense.”

Harris said the “administrative discretion” is important to factor in.

“If a kid has had a doctor’s appointment [scheduled] for a month in advance, we’ll use our heads,” he said.

Only students taking part in OSSAA-sanctioned extra-curricular activities are subject to the testing.

The policy states: “The sanctions of this policy relate solely to limiting the opportunity of any student determined to be in violation of this policy to participate in extra-curricular activities. No suspensions from school or academic sanctions will be imposed for violations of this policy.”

The policy has consequences designated for three offenses.

For the first offense, a meeting is called with the student’s parent/guardian and school administration. The student must also successfully complete two hours of substance abuse education/counseling provided by the school. An updated consequence for a first offense is that the student will be removed from the pool of those randomly tested and instead will be tested monthly for the remainder of the school year. A second offense will see that student suspended from their activity for 14 calendar days during which time they can’t take part in practices, scrimmages or competitions. Four hours of substance abuse education/counseling must also be completed. For a third offense in that same school year, the student would be suspended from participating in all extra- curricular activities for the rest of that school year or 90 days of their next activity, whichever is longer. Refusing to take a drug test will also be the equivalent of a third failed test, the policy states.

Prior to taking part in extra-curricular activities, both students and their parent/guardian must sign a document stating they have read, understand and will comply with the policy.

Harris said the testing isn’t conducted to try to ensnare students.

“This is set up to be a lifeline, not a ‘gotcha’ thing,” he said.

Board member Terry Payne agreed with its intent.

“I don’t know if there’s a perfect system,” he said. “I’m glad we have something put in place to help those kids think before they hurt themselves down the road.”

Harris did relay some good news from the latest round of tests.

“This last month we tested is the first time since I’ve been here that we didn’t have a positive,” he said. “We were all negative, which is a good thing.”