Watonga School Board Votes to Beef Up Drug-Testing Policy

WATONGA – The Watonga Public Schools Board of Education met on Monday, June 13, for a summertime session to prepare for the fall semester.

The board had the minimum number of members available Monday, as Aaron Clewell, Dwight McGee and Mayra Flynn were present while Andy Wigington and Shawn Cox were unable to attend. The board heard reports from district principals, including new middle school principal Ty Hussey, and approved new insurance policies for the next school year.

Another item the board approved was a tougher drug-testing policy that includes a “three-strikes” approach for participation in extracurricular activities. Notably, all students who participate in extracurriculars like athletics, band and academic clubs will be drug tested this fall.

Testing will become randomized after that, except for students who test positive the first time. Students who test positive will receive drug counseling through the school.

Students can still participate in extracurriculars after one failed test; after two failed tests, however, they will be suspended from activities for 14 days. A third failed test will render them ineligible for the remainder of the school year.

Administrators said that coaches are already alerting students about the new policy at their summer workouts.

Marijuana will be among the drugs tested for, along with opiates, methamphetamine and more. Students who use medical marijuana will not be suspended from activities as long as they can produce their card.

“School is supposed to be a safe place to learn and a safe place to send your kids,” Superintendent Kyle Hilterbran said. “We don’t want drugs in our school, we don’t want weapons in our school. We don’t want any of that.”

Before leaving Monday, the school board approved the hire of three teachers and two aides. Jennifer Base will teach middle school Tech Ed; Andrew Park is the new elementary Physical Education teacher; and Joseph DeLaGarza will be an upper elementary teacher.

Tracey Marney and Kayli Wigington will be elementary special education aides.