Do 40-to-75% of Washoe County School District’s secondary school students actually use drugs on campus every day?

Without exception, that’s what numerous parents, students, and staff members at over half of all WCSD secondary schools  have reported to the Education Crusade organization for years.

How have WCSD Superintendents and School Board members responded to this problem that has destroyed – and IS destroying their students’ futures, costing children’s lives, and ruining our schools, academically and behaviorally?

• WCSD has refused to even admit the existence of their overwhelming drug problem.

• They have also refused to implement any kind of drug-testing program, like almost 40% of all public schools have done for years. https://www.usnews.com/news/healthiest-communities/articles/2019-09-05/school-districts-double-down-on-drug-testing-targeting-even-middle-schoolers

WCSD’s School Board has repeatedly refused presentation offers from Education Crusade regarding the unique – and uniquely successful “West Valley Drug-Testing Program.”

• The West Valley Drug-Testing Program was – and is unique.

 It is 100% voluntary.

No students are required to drug test, but in the history of the program,

100% of them have chosen to do so.

• The program is uniquely successful.

Wherever this program has been tried, it has achieved virtually 100% drug-free schools.

The key to the success of the West Valley Drug-Testing Program is how it transforms the entire climate of a school by utilizing three of the strongest influences on teenagers:  peer pressure, parental support, and morals education.

Short-Term Results of implementing This Drug-Testing Program

• Schools that used this program showed daily attendance rates increase to almost 90%.

• Students made huge gains in academic test scores.

• Student violence, gang activity, racial incidents, and disrespect towards staff dropped to almost nothing.

Long-Term Results

Over 25 years, a random, longitudinal study of students who participated in this drug-testing program has shown remarkable long-term results.

Students who participated in the West Valley Program as juveniles, have also experienced its lasting, positive impact on their lives as young adults:

• Higher employment rates, and higher quality employment than their peers.

• More harmonious relationships with their parents and families.

• The ability to maintain clean, sober and law-abiding lifestyles

• A desire to live the values embedded in the West Valley Program and teach them to their own children.

Long-term Results of NOT Implementing a Drug-testing Program

WCSD’s ongoing refusal to acknowledge and address its rampant drug problem and establish an effective drug-testing program is dangerously irresponsible.

It’s resulted in school climates that annually pump-out hundreds of Washoe County’s next generation of drug addicts, chronic criminal offenders, vagrants, and unemployed/unemployable/under-employed men and women.

These are the individuals who disproportionately utilize the County’s already-stretched social service resources. They overtax our emergency room access, our police and fire services, and reduce the County’s pool of skilled employees that are needed to keep our local businesses and attract new ones. Most tragically of all, a large number of these individuals go on to live unfulfilled, hopeless lives, unnecessarily break down physically and mentally, and die prematurely.

Washoe County school leaders have nothing to lose by accepting Education Crusade’s offer to provide a 25-minute overview of the West Valley Drug-Testing Program at its next Board meeting.

The presentation would provide general information about this drug-testing program to the Superintendent, the Board, and the public whom they both answer to, regarding the following.

• How much would this program cost?

ONLY the cost of cheap, disposable “dip-tests.”

• How many extra employees would be required to implement it?

None.

• How long would it take to get organized and begin drug-testing?

2 weeks or less.

• How quickly could the program be discontinued if WCSD didn’t like it?

Immediately.

• How would you begin to pilot the program and how does it work?

Details would be provided during the 20-25 minute presentation.

The West Valley Drug-Testing Program has transformed the lives of many young people and their families. It could do the same for students and families of WCSD.

All that’s required is for Superintendent Joe Ernst and the School Board to have the willingness to listen to a short presentation about a program that PEOPLE Magazine and CBS National News named one of their Top 5 Stories of the Year.

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