FEATURES 11
WHAT WHO The vendor has yet to be decided, but HIES is considering Psychemedics, the company that Woodward and Lovett use. The drug testing scans hair follicles, which means a professional hairstylist will be present in the drug testing process and will take strands of hair in a way that is unnoticeable. If a student is bald or has little hair on their head, then the stylist will take hair samples from the arm or leg.
WHY When marketing HIES, the school needs to look, as Barton said, “up to date” with other competing private schools; that means admitting that drugs could be in the Holy Innocents’ community, and actively dealing with the issue. Also according to Baron, “kids are pretty well educated on the pros and cons [of drug testing], but what they need is something that is going to help them with peer pressure.”
WHERE Ideally, drug testing would take place in the locker rooms. There is a door leading into the locker rooms and a separate door leading out, maintaining the privacy of the students.
A standard hair follicle drug test from Psychemedics detects cocaine, marijuana, opiates (heroin, codeine, morphine, oxycodone, hydrocodone, and hydromorphone), methamphetamine, ecstasy (MDMA), eve (MDEA) and phencyclidine. Again, HIES has not finalized the vendor or testing details. Alcohol will not be included in the drug test.
WHEN The 2018-19 enrollment contracts will include a clause requiring agreement to random drug testing throughout the school year. It is a possibility that drug testing will occur this spring, but would be optional because drug testing is not currently in our student contracts. As of now, mandatory drug testing will commence Fall 2018 for the entire Upper School student body, and a mandatory drug testing for 30-40 students each month for the rest of the year will follow.
HOW A professional hair stylist will be present during the process. Based on Psychemedics Corporation’s website, “In general, the amount needed is the thickness of a shoelace tip”. Furthermore the sample is, “a cosmetically undetectable lock of hair preferably snipped from the back of the head, just below the crown.”
Re-enrollment policy includes a clause agreeing to random mandatory drug testing.
FEBRUARY 2018 FALL 2017
A town hall meeting regarding drug testing is scheduled.
FALL 2018
Mandatory drug testing for entire Upper School.