Board rejects proposed updates to student drug-testing policy after wide stakeholder concerns

The Ketchikan Gateway Borough School District board rejected proposed revisions to its student drug-testing policy on Jan. 14 after a public hearing highlighted legal and practical concerns.

Kelly Smith, activities director at Ketchikan High School, told the board the district's current draft is outdated and legally risky in places and that implementation lacks necessary confidentiality safeguards and follow-up resources for students who test positive. Smith urged a comprehensive rewrite involving legal counsel, parents, students and community stakeholders rather than approval of the current revisions.

Smith said the district performed roughly 350 tests in the most recent comparable period and reported about 27 positive results, of which she said 25 were vaping-related and 2 were marijuana. She and others argued that vaping's prevalence, changing state and federal case law, and scarce local treatment resources require rethinking the policy's purpose and process.

Board members also called for wider stakeholder input and student voice; several members said an immediate vote on the revisions would be premature. On roll call, the proposed revisions failed 0–7.

What's next: several board members said the policy should return to the policy committee for a full revision with legal review and stakeholder engagement, including student input and a clear process for confidentiality and referral.