The Butler School Board unanimously approved the contract with Sport Safe to conduct drug testing on its student athletes.

One main concern raised by board members at Monday night's meeting was confidentiality regarding the results of the tests.

The contract with Sport Safe, an Ohio company, is the culmination of the district's new drug testing policy passed this summer. Pennsylvania Youth Survey data from 2017-18 showed Butler students were using illegal substances at similar or slightly greater levels than county or state averages.

Superintendent Brian White said confidentiality will be a tough standard to meet due to sports being a public activity.

“I don't want to give a falsehood that you could do this in a vacuum and no one's ever going to know,” White said.

Solicitor Thomas King said Sport Safe agreed in the contract that its employees are obligated to follow the same standards as the district's staff and teachers.

Teachers and staff are bound by the Family and Education Rights and Privacy Act.

“I'm certain that they know their responsibilities,” King said. “We're pretty confident in their ability.”

White said Sport Safe also offers its services to Mars and Seneca Valley school districts.

Sport Safe employees would be responsible for collecting test samples and protecting the chain of custody of the specimen.

White said testing results could come in as early as 10 days. If a positive test is determined, Sport Safe would contact the parents first before the school district, according to White.

White said the company was the only one that applied to provide services, despite multiple others expressing interest. He said part of the district's application required respondents to explain their process working with a school, and this could be the reason other applications were not submitted.

King said there will be an opportunity later for parents to ask questions to Sport Safe employees at a parent meeting that has yet to be scheduled.