BARTOW - Random drug tests for high school students who engage in competitive extracurricular activities is a necessity, one Polk County school official said. High school athletes have been tested for drug and alcohol abuse use for almost five years, and the program needs to be expanded to include more students, said Audrey Kelley-Fritz, the senior manager of Prevention, Health and Wellness Services for Polk County Public Schools. At their Tuesday meeting, Polk County School Board members voted to expand the school district's drug-testing policy to include all students involved with high school extracurricular activities. [continues 539 words]
BARTOW - For the first time, Polk County high school students face the possibility of random drug and alcohol testing if they are involved in competitive extracurricular activities. The Polk County School Board approved that policy change and others following a public hearing Tuesday during the board meeting in Bartow. According to Audrey Kelley-Fritz, the senior manager of prevention, health and wellness for Polk County Public Schools, the implementation of the new drug and alcohol tests was mandated by the U.S. Department of Education. [continues 365 words]
