School Board Mulls Drug Testing Students
The Wooster City School Board of Education announced at its August meeting that it will form a committee to consider random drug testing in the WCSD, according to the Aug. 6 Daily Record article, “Random Drug Testing Considered,” by Linda Hall.
Dr. Adam Keating, a Cleveland Clinic pediatrician, will chair the committee at the meeting on the Sept. 26.
Knapic said the impetus for the committee stems from inquiries made by community members, but said, “The inquiries were made in private communication, and I believe it would be inappropriate of me to share the names of those individuals at this juncture.”
Keating said the committee will set its goals at their first meeting, but said, “Probably the first goal is to look at, from an evidence based manner, the question of random mandatory student drug testing, to see whether or not it is an effective way, or part of an effective solution for keeping the students safe and addressing the concerns of those that have problems with substances.”
Keating said the committee’s first meeting will be in mid-October.
WHS Principal Tyler Keener said there is no rampant drug problem at WHS, but he assumes the committee will be an attempt to help students make smart choices more generally.
Knapic said the committee was assembled by the district administration, the board of education and unnamed community members.
Bobbi Douglas, Chuck Cooper, Richard Leone, Bridget Frantz, Brent Rice, Robert Gorman, Dr. Adam Keating, Andy Kellar, Richard Lee and Jacquelyn Dossi are on the committee, according to central office.
Knapic said there would be a student on the committee, but at this time, no name could be confirmed.
