BF students test clean for drugs

BONNERS FERRY —None of 50 Boundary County School District students checked for illegal drug-use last week tested positive.

“I’m happy because anytime you have drug tests that come back negative that’s good,” Bonners Ferry High School Assistant Principal Ted Reynolds said about the 30 high school students who tested negative for marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine and prescription drugs.

It was the second time this school year that students in ninth through 12th grades were tested; 20 tested negative for drug-use last fall, Reynolds said.

Another 20 students from Boundary County Middle School were tested last week. All were negative, said principal Dick Behrens.

“That’s wonderful that they were all clean,” Behrens said. “That’s what we were looking for.”

Boundary County School Board last summer agreed to begin random drug testing on students in seventh through 12th grades who participate in extracurricular activities.

Law allows school districts to drug-test students who participate in extra-curricular activities, including sports, clubs, band, choir and more. Other North Idaho schools that do drug screening include Coeur d’Alene/Lake City, Lakeland, St. Maries, Timberlake, Priest River, Grangeville and Post Falls.

At the high school, 267 students participate in activities, Reynolds said. Students tested were chosen at random.

At the middle school, about 75 participate in activities, Behrens said. Last week was the first time middle school students were tested.

High school principal Curt Randall-Bayer said he has not seen a drop in student participation in activities due to testing.

Bayer is pleased with the outcome of the drug testing.

“It think it’s a great trend,” he said. “It says our kids are making great choices and hopefully there’s a rollover to the general population.”

Behrens and Reynolds said students in extra activities can expect to be tested  this spring.