Pennsbury Students May Face Random Alcohol Screening

FALLSINGTON, PA —The Pennsbury School District's Policy Committee has tabled a policy that calls for using an alcohol screening device to randomly test students at school events.

The committee recently discussed the draft of a policy for Passive Breath Alcohol Sensor Devices to be used to randomly test students at school events such as proms, graduations, and even school plays.

The policy calls for every 5th student to be screened.

The committee tabled the discussion until next month after several school members raised questions about its usage and the timeliness of having it ready for this year's prom and graduation.

"Our kids have been through a lot with Covid," said one school board member who asked that the discussion be tabled. "It's not appropriate for our kids. I just don't feel right about it. I worry about lawsuits coming from it. It seems excessive for all the events."

School officials said they need more time to mull over the policy. They said a policy that's "solidified and transparent" could be ready for the 2023-2024 prom season.

The school board meets Thursday night.

The Feb. 9 policy committee meeting was attended by Schools Superintendent Thomas E. Smith, President TR Kannan, Vice President Gary Sanderson, and school directors Jeannine Delwiche, Lois Lambing, and Jim Prokopiak, among other school officials.

Patch listened to an audio recording of the meeting.

"I know it can be tough for people to think about," Smith said. "We want to keep kids safe at large-scale events."

School officials said that the device is different from a Breathalyzer, which you blow into. The device "shoots into" the screener, a school official explained.

The cost of the devices are $375 each. The district would purchase two —and possibly need six —if the policy is adopted.

The school district currently has a policy in place for controlled substances and drug paraphernalia if which the school principal could use a "Breathalyzer" to test a student based on their behavior or medical symptoms.

School officials said that the policy would be amended to change it from using a Breathalyzer to the sensor. School officials said they do not have Breathalyzers currently in the district bit did so at one time.

The policy came out of discussions at Pennsbury High School after an incident last year in which a student was disciplined at the prom and for graduation, school officials said.

In the draft, the district said the policy's purpose is to recognize that a student's abuse of harmful substances seriously impedes the student's education and threatens the welfare of the entire school community.

The school board would have the authority to prevent substance abuse and the rehabilitation of substance abusers by educational means but would be allowed to take "additional necessary and appropriate steps" to protect the school community from harm and from exposure to harmful substances.

The building principal or designee shall be responsible to monitor the welfare of students at school and during school events.

The sensor would only be used in accordance with policy guidelines, which include allowing staff to check an approximate alcohol level quickly and efficiently without requiring the student’s active participation.

The board would authorize screening before, during, and after school activities/events.

Those events include dances, athletic events, proms, class trips, drama productions, graduation ceremonies, and school assemblies when the Building Principal or designee has reason to believe the use of alcohol by students may be present.

When it is determined that a sensor will be used for an event such as a prom, a random number sequence will be selected by the principal or designee prior to the event.

For example, if the number five is selected every fifth student in line for entrance into the activity/event shall be screened.

The district could also screen every student entering an activity or event, the policy draft states.

The selection, collection, and testing of students may also be coordinated by a vendor contracted by the Pennsbury School District.

A written notice indicating the sensor's use would be displayed at the point of sale of a ticket for the activity and event or at the entrance of the activity/event if tickets are not required.

If the screening indicates the presence of alcohol in a student, additional screenings will be conducted.

If additional PBASD screenings confirm the presence of alcohol in a student, the matter shall be reported to the principal, designee, and school nurse if applicable.

The adult student and/or the student’s parent/legal guardian must consent to the screening. Failure to do so would be considered a positive result.