YET ANOTHER Eastern Ohio school district is planning on implementing drug testing.

Buckeye Local made that announcement during this week’s board of education meeting. It seems that drug testing is becoming the trend for local school districts.

We expect many more to follow suit.

Martins Ferry and Barnesville of immediate interest, as well as Cambridge, are school districts with drug testing of its student-athletes already in place. They all report things are going well in that regard.

All the aforementioned school districts have employed a Richmond, Va. firm to conduct the testing. Buckeye Local also plans to do the same.

The program goes as follows: all athletes are tested prior to the start of their respective sports season. That is followed by random testing of some 10 percent of those already tested in that competitive season.

The policy ensures all student-athletes will be drug tested at least once. The random followup testing is a nice safeguard to keep those already tested on their toes.

We like Buckeye Local Superintendent of Schools Mark Miller’s view on the matter.

Miller has gone on record in support of drug testing students in grades 7-12 who participate in any extra activity through the school. “By law, kids have to come to school,” said Miller. “It’s a privilege to participate in anything else.”

We agree with that mode of thinking.

The Buckeye Local Board of Education has yet to formally approve its drug-testing policy.

We believe, however, the district board of education and its superintendent will eventually go that route, as they are in tune on what is best for their students.

We view drug testing as an effective safety net that school districts should utilize.