School Safety

Drug Testing

Decatur City Schools is committed to providing a safe and drug-free environment for students.  Decatur City Schools has two student drug testing programs.  Parents are notified of any student who tests positive on a drug test. All information is confidential. Only designated school personnel who have a need to know will have access to students drug tests results.  The goal of the drug testing is to prevent substance abuse. Parents will be contacted by a school representative to discuss the best method of assisting the student. Positive tests results may result in the student being restricted from participating in certain school activities. 

Project ID

Decatur City Schools partners with Morgan County Substance Abuse Network (MCSAN) to provide Project Independent Decision (Project ID) for seventh and eighth grade students. Project ID is a voluntary prevention program that reinforces students decisions to remain free from substance abuse through offering incentives and rewards. 

Project ID provides students in the seventh and eighth grades with positive alternatives to drug related activities. Students can only participate in the program with parental permission.  Students who enroll in the program submit to a urine sample for drug testing in the fall.  Random drug testing occurs later during the school year. The testing will cover some or all of the following categories of drugs: amphetamines, nicotine, cocaine, opiates, PCP, THC (marijuana), benzodiazipines, alcohol, and / or propoxyphene. Students who test free from illegal drugs will be issued a picture “ID” card which can be used to obtain discounts from participating merchants for purchases such as fast food items, clothing / music items, etc.

High School Drug Testing

Students, who participate in competitive extracurricular activities in high schools, must participate in the random drug-testing program. Competitive extracurricular activities and organizations affected by this policy include all athletic activities, band, chorus, ROTC, forensics, and any other club or activity that has competitive extracurricular activities.  Each month, the school system will test approximately five percent of students involved in competitive extracurricular activities at each high school. 

Students who participate or intend to participate in activities and extracurricular organizations of a competitive nature cannot participate unless each student agrees to be randomly drug tested for tobacco, alcohol, and drug use. Consequences are outlined in the Board Policy explaining the restrictions students will experience if they test positive for tobacco, alcohol, or other drugs. 

The Decatur City Board of Education believes it is important that every student and every employee of the school system understand the dangers of tobacco, alcohol, and drug abuse. Objectives of the student drug testing are to reduce the likelihood of incidents of accidental personal injury and to encourage students to maintain a safe and drug free environment.