Random drug testing of students will be the focus of a special meeting Tuesday.

The Brownstown Central Community School Corp. board will meet at 6:30 p.m. in the high school cafeteria. Board members hope to gain some public input into a proposal to implement random drug testing for students.

The proposed testing, which would apply to athletes, students participating in other extracurricular activities and those who drive to school, will be outlined during the meeting.

“It’s the only thing on the agenda,” Superintendent Greg Walker said.

He and trustees began discussing random drug testing in December. They would like to have a policy ready for a vote by the regular meeting on April 14, Walker said.

“We’re looking at giving kids a way to say ‘No,’” he said. “We would like to give them another avenue to combat peer pressure.”

Walker said Seymour Community Schools has had a similar program in place for several years, and Bedford North Lawrence Community Schools and Salem Community Schools have similar policies.

Officials with Midwest Toxicology will be on hand Tuesday to outline how the system would work and answer questions.

If implemented, the policy would apply to students in sixth through 12th grade, Walker said.

A random number will be assigned to each student in the pool of those who could be tested. Midwest Toxicology then sends the school district a list of student numbers to be tested each month.

“They would come in, collect the samples, take them back and come back to us with any that might test positive,” Walker said.

He said school officials would not be responsible for selecting students to test.

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What: Special meeting of the trustees of Brownstown Central Community School Corp.

Purpose: Receive public input about a proposed policy for student random drug testing

When: 6:30 p.m. Tuesday

Where: The high school cafeteria, 500 N. Elm St.

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