MARS, Pa. — School may be out for the summer, but officials in the Mars Area School District are already looking forward to the next academic year and how they can keep their students safe.
School leaders are considering random drug tests for secondary students, which includes children in seventh through 12th grades. Details of the policy are still being decided, but the superintendent said it would include the students signing a waiver saying they understand what random drug testing entails.
People who live in the school district and spoke with Channel 11 News on Friday said they love the idea.
“I think it's a good idea. I think it will keep the kids from doing this type of activity,” Nadine Moran said.
The students at the focus of the random drug testing includes children who play a sport, participate in an extracurricular activity or drive to school, the superintendent said.
If the student fails, the individual would lose all privileges, meaning they would not do any of those activities. Officials said the student would not face any additional punishment. It’s an extra push to help children not to give into peer pressure, school officials said.
“I think it's a good thing: Keeping our kids safe. It is one of my biggest fears. You know it's out there. What could come of it?” parent Jen Veneviano said.
School officials said if the policy were to go into effect, the district would pay for the drug testing. The issue is on the agenda for the school board’s next meeting on Tuesday.
The Seneca Valley School District, which is near Mars, has been conducting random drug tests similar to what Mars has proposed for the past 14 years.
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