Barker presented the information to the board of trustees during the June 18 meeting.
Some context
LTISD’s drug testing program is designed as a “preventative and educational tool,” not a punitive measure, Barker said.
Results are collected from middle and high school students who are randomly selected throughout the school year. These include students participating in UIL activities, athletics, fine arts, school-sponsored competitive extracurricular activities and students with high school parking permits.
Selections are conducted by a testing company using a randomized system, Barker said.
In alignment with board policy, students who test positive for the first time are suspended from competitions and performances for 14 calendar days, required to attend four counseling sessions with a district social worker, and are assigned 30 hours of community service.
Consequences and required interventions increase with each additional positive test, Barker said.
Breaking it down
In 2024-25, there were 3,252 students enrolled in the program. Of those, 764 were randomly selected and tested.
This year’s results indicate a shift in substance use patterns, Barker said. Of the 40 positive tests this year:
- 18 were nicotine
- 12 were nicotine and marijuana
- 7 were marijuana
- 1 was amphetamine
- 1 was opiates
- 1 student refused a test, which is automatically denoted as a failed test
There were also 11 “repeat positive” tests, meaning one or more students tested positive more than once.
The specific number of positive tests on the three middle school campuses between 2019-25 are not available, as results netting fewer than 10 positives are masked, Barker said.
- 5.2% of tests were positive in 2024-25
- 3.4% of tests were positive in 2023-24
- 3% of tests were positive in 2022-23
- 4.6% of tests were positive in 2021-22
- Less than 1% of tests were positive in 2019-20
Last year, the board “supported a shift” for fewer testing days to minimize instructional disruptions, Barker said.
“The decrease in program costs this year reflects that reduction in the number of drug testing dates, which directly lowered overall expenses,” Barker said.
Barker said there is still an adequate sample size of students even with fewer testing days.
The district has also “realized significant savings” since 2021 by utilizing its district social workers to provide the required counseling sessions for positive-testing students rather than outsourcing the service, she said.
Looking ahead
LTISD continues to implement strategies such as districtwide assemblies focused on drug use prevention, Barker said.
Next school year, the district will expand this support by providing additional resources for students and families, including:
- Greater access to prevention tools and educational materials
- More targeted outreach for at-risk students
- Connections to community-based support services
