BOE approves in-house drug testing and update to transfer policy

By Charlotte Underwood

JACKSBORO, TN (WLAF)- The Campbell County BOE met Tuesday evening at Jacksboro Middle School, approving the update of both the drug testing policy for the school district and an update to the transfer policy. Both of these changes came upon the recommendation of the BOE Policy Committee, which met and discussed the policy changes on April 30.

The take-away from that policy committee meeting was that the purpose of doing drug testing in-house is to “prevent drug test discrepancies, and it will also save the school district money.”

At that previous policy meeting, Campbell County Schools Health Coordinator Ernie Clawson addressed the policy committee, explaining that the reasoning to change this was due to a lot of “discrepancies in drug testing.”

It is a 12-panel drug test kit, and the school nurse or SRO Officer would administer the drug test.

This will also save parents money. When students get drug tested, that cost is covered by the parent and is usually around $50. Students cannot be drug tested without parent permission.

Also approved on Tuesday at the policy committee’s recommendation was a policy update for student transfers within the system.

According to the transfer application, “All applications for transfer must be submitted in writing by a parent or guardian. The transfer form and supporting information will then be presented to the requested school’s principal who will inform the parent or guardian of the approval or the denial of the transfer. Parents must also complete the normal registration process if the transfer is approved. The Transfer application requires that the student have a “C” or better average in all coursework, as well as 95% attendance for the previous year. Students must have no more than three disciplinary referrals during the previous year.” (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED-05/14/2025-6AM)