Claymont Tightens Drug Testing Policy for Student Athletes, Sparking Debate


Last Updated On: October 19, 2024

Claymont schools are set to launch random drug and alcohol testing for student athletes, revising a 2018 policy to ensure stricter monitoring.

Students in grades 7-12 will face random screenings as a condition for joining sports teams and other extracurricular activities, with an option for others to opt-in.

Lois Grandison, a school board member, cast one of the three votes in favor of the new policy, emphasizing the importance of accountability.

“If you’re choosing to vape, drink, or use drugs, you have to accept the consequences,” she said.

Students testing positive will need to undergo a substance use assessment and follow recommendations from a counselor.

However, Board President Michelle Wolf voiced concerns, voting against the policy.

She highlighted a lack of comprehensive support for students beyond the consequences, questioning, “What are we doing to actually help these kids after they’ve violated the policy?”

Consequences for violations range from missing a single event to, on the fifth offense, being barred from participation for the rest of high school unless they pass three drug tests over six months.

This revised policy balances discipline with intervention, but the ongoing debate underscores the challenge of finding the right approach to support students while ensuring accountability.

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