Eighty-four percent of students involved in extracurriculars or who park on campus submitted forms by Monday deadline.
TRENTON — Random student drug testing at Edgewood High School could begin any day for the 409 students who have turned in signed consent forms.
Administrators had set a Monday deadline for students who participate in "non-graded" privileges such as extracurricular activities or parking on campus to turn in consent forms signed by the student and guardian, said John Thomas, communications director for the district.
Eighty-four percent of the 485 forms distributed to students were turned in to administrators as of Monday afternoon, said Thomas. Forty-six of those were for students who have parking permits but do not participate in any extracurricular activities.
Many of the 76 students who had not turned in their consent forms told administrators they had forgotten the form.
"The only feedback we're getting is more of the 'I forgot,'" he said. "I'm not aware of anybody yet that said, 'I'm not turning those in.'"
Edgewood board members approved a plan Aug. 27 to begin random drug testing and finalized the process Sept. 24 when they approved the policy and regulations.
Eligible students would be randomly selected by a computer for the drug testing. If a student tests positive, the student and parent would be notified of the results before school personnel and would have a chance to appeal the results by providing proof of a prescription or a second negative screen, according to the regulations.
If a student tests positive, consequences include suspension from activities and a reinstatement process including an evaluation by a licensed professional and a negative sample, according to the policy. | 
