Students in Greentown see tougher drug policy

GREENTOWN. IN (WISH) - School officials in Greentown are expanding their drug testing policy.

The Eastern Howard school board approved a new policy that will allow random drug testing of students in extracurricular school activities. 

Under the old policy only parents were notified if there was a positive drug test.

Administrators now have the power to suspend students for up to 90 days from any extracurricular activity as well as require drug counseling at parents expense. 

“We're looking at a 30 day time out I really don’t want to call it suspension because during that time we want students to become educated on drugs and alcohol and the dangers,” said Superintendent Tracy Caddell. 

Only students allowed to drive to school or take part in any extracurricular activity be subjected to the new rule, that’s roughly 75 percent of the student population. 

“Normally there will be multiple drug tests in a month  as well as 10 to 20 students names will be drawn at that time,” said Dr. Caddell.

A positive test will not take a student out of the classroom , just out of their afterschool activities.  

The new policy also allows a student to be tested on reasonable suspicion.