Rumors have been flying through the halls of FHS that the administration may begin to randomly drug test students. Is this even a high school policy? Will lockers be searched, cars checked, and will the dogs be sent in? No, to all of the above. As FHS policy currently stands, there will not be any randomized drug tests administered. Despite rumors of these random tests, there was never any talk of administering them, Mrs. Corris said. She believes that these types of things spread from one or two incidents that are blown out of proportion just by the circumstance of a typical rumor. In contrast, Ambridge Senior High School’s handbook basically says that any student who wants to participate in anything school related – including sports, extra-curriculars, and even parking the in the student parking lot- could be subjected to the randomized drug tests. If you’ve ever cared to look, you would know the FHS Student Handbook devotes a whopping nine pages to their Drug and Alcohol Policy. In those nine pages, there are several potential situations that the administration felt should be evaluated. The handbook says a student would be violating the drug policy terms and conditions by demonstrating behavior of using drugs or alcohol, getting caught possessing them on school property, or distributing them to peers. Students in violation of these conditions may be subject to a locker or car search, any the police may be notified. They might also be referred to the Student Assistance Program (SAP). The SAP Team is a group of teachers, nurses, counselors and specialists who the school has put through an intense, 4-day program that trained them to deal with students who are confronted with illegal substances. All Pennsylvania public schools have this team available to their students. If those sound serious, the punishments that will really affect you include being placed on probation for up to 90 days, exclusion from any and all extra-curricular activities – that includes sports, dances, and clubs – meeting with a prevention specialist numerous times a week, and even temporary or permanent expulsion. The Freedom Board of Education has the final say on any school and all school related policy additions or changes, and for the high school to turn to drug policies like Ambridge’s all that would be required is a majority decision from the board of education.