BUTLER TWP — The Butler Area School District board took the first step in updating its policy regarding student drug offenses during its meeting Monday night.

The board approved first reading of a proposed policy update on random drug testing and clarifying consequences to students who test positive for drug use more than once.

District superintendent Brian White said there is conflicting language in the current policy that administrators wanted to update in an effort to have students take the policy seriously.

“If we as an administration can’t agree on what it is saying, then how could we expect the students to understand,” White asked.

The proposed policy update said students who have a second and third drug offense within a six-year period will receive a 14-day suspension from sports and activities and lose parking privileges when they have a positive drug test.

The student also will have to meet with the assistant superintendent; their building principal or a designee; and a guidance counselor so together they can create a detailed action plan focusing on the creation of assistance and support-based goals.

District assistant superintendent Brian Slamecka said a student’s record could be expunged after one year, if decided upon. Additionally, White said students who drive to school are subject to random drug testing, and students who participate in certain extracurricular activities and sports also are drug tested.

White said the policy update is meant to create a path for students to improve their situation; the old policy did not provide clear language in this regard.

“That’s just not best practice in trying to reduce drug use in students,” White said of the language being updated. “We’re trying to encourage treatment and ... therapy and counseling.”