Jefferson City Public Schools is considering increasing the number of drugs it tests for in student-athletes.
A committee of district officials discussed potential school board policy changes on Thursday. Human resources director Penney Rector said the drug-testing recommendation came from the activities department.
Currently, the district tests students involved with Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA)-approved sports twice a year during bulk drug tests and random drug tests every month. The tests are for marijuana, cocaine, amphetamines and opiates.
The activities department suggested the district begin using a 12-panel test that screens for marijuana, cocaine, amphetamines, opiates, benzodiazepine, barbiturates, methadone, propoxyphene, quaaludes, ecstasy, oxycodone and PCP (phencyclidine), Rector said.
If the district switches to the 12-panel test, costs would increase $7,500 per year - upping the expense to roughly $32,500 annually, Chief Financial Officer Jason Hoffman said.
Board President John Ruth wanted to know the drug-testing process carried out by the independent company that performs the tests. He said he has heard the test is easy to cheat on if an official isn't watching "the stream hit the cup."
He didn't want to proceed with a round of tests that are more expensive for the district if students could easily cheat the current test.
Rector said she plans to collect more information about how the independent company performs the tests, and will bring that information back to the committee in September then bring the committee's recommendation to the board.
If the board does move forward with the enhanced testing this fall, it's likely the district wouldn't start the new drug testing until the 2017-18 school year.