Rock Bridge High School students to take Breathalyzer test before prom

Rock Bridge High School students will all take breathalyzer test at prom on April 28.

“It will be followed through, it’s not a veiled threat,” said Rock Bridge principal Jennifer Rukstad. “It is important for the culture of our own prom that we do it that way.”

After student leaders expressed concern about others showing up drunk this past fall, they suggested that staff should make Breathalyzer tests available for prom.

“The students wanted to have an event they could be proud of, for themselves and for their school, and this is one of the suggestions that they had,” said CPS spokeswoman Michelle Baumstark.

The tests are only mandatory at Rock Bridge High School. Battle, Hickman and Douglass students will have to blow into the device only if staff suspects they are intoxicated.

School policy states that searches can be done when there’s reasonable suspicion that a student may be under the influence.

“All our school district policies apply whether it’s on campus or off,” said Baumstark.

If a student is over the limit, school officials will call their parents and they will not be able to attend the prom. The legal limit for a minor is .02.

There’s no expectation that there will be legal consequences.

“The intent is to not immediately report,” said Rukstad. “Our intent is to notify the family first.”

CPS officials said they hope this can be a deterrent for students to make different choices before the school-sponsored event.