Kingsport City Schools could initiate random drug testing for students

A local high school is looking to move up its pre-scheduled date for initiating random drug testing for students.

Previously, random drug testing for some Dobyns-Bennett students wouldn’t have happened until at least 2019 or 2020. School board members are exploring details for a proposal later this year.

A handful of board members discussed randomly drug testing all students; however, under Tennessee Law students in “voluntary extracurricular activities” can be tested.

Dobyn-Bennet is one of the few schools in the region without random drug testing. Administration believes the testing is an overall health and safety strategy.