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Rolla Public Schools

It's a Great Day to be a Bulldog

Missouri Wastewater Testing

Missouri Wastewater Testing in Public Schools

(Last updated on November 3, 2026)

The Rolla 31 School District, along with 163 other schools across the state, has been selected to participate in the Wastewater Testing for School Safety program, mandated by state law for the 2026-27 school year. This program is administered by the Missouri Department of Public Safety in coordination with the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. On June 30, 2026, Governor Mike Kehoe signed into law two pieces of legislation requiring schools selected by DPS to participate in the state’s efforts to monitor and identify dangerous drugs in schools, including fentanyl, carfentanil, nitazenes and other substances.

Wastewater is sampled from our buildings’ outside sewer pipe during school hours by the state’s vendor Stercus Bioanalytics. Testing shows broad trends, but it does not test or identify individual students or staff.

A result cannot tell us:

  • who used a substance
  • how many people used it, or how much
  • whether a substance was used on school property or during the school day
  • where in the building it entered the wastewater

A single result is one piece of information. It does not show widespread use among students, and it is not a reflection of our school or student body. District facilities are in use by many external groups throughout the entire calendar year.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • A: Yes. School safety testing is mandated pursuant to Section 2.020 of the DESE Appropriations Bill 2002. Corresponding program funding is allocated under Section 8.065 of the DPS Appropriations Bill 2008.

     

  • A: The vendor will contact schools to collect basic logistical information, such as school calendars, facility blueprints, scheduled closures, and major campus events (e.g., athletic games). This ensures sampling dates are aligned with normal operational days, and sampling is isolated to the school’s wastewater only.

     

  • A: A positive result confirms that an individual (student, faculty, staff, vendor, or visitor) who used school facilities during sampling hours consumed a tested drug within the last 24–72 hours. Testing Limitations: Results are anonymous and cannot identify specific individuals, determine if drugs were consumed on school grounds, or specify exact usage amounts.

     

  • A: At this time, there is zero cost to schools. The Department of Public Safety (DPS) maintains a contract with Mighty Good Solutions (dba Stercus Bioanalytics) and manages all invoicing directly. It’s important to note that no guidance has been provided on whether remediation or further investigation will be required. There is no additional funding allocated to follow-up action.

     

  • A: Public Records & Resource Portal. Testing results are subject to public records requests, and DPS will fulfill requests for reports as needed. Additionally, DPS is developing a public resource webpage to share region-level data (by Highway Patrol Troop) and support resources.

     

  • A: Positive results carry no expectations of school-led investigations or student discipline at this time. Missouri State Highway Patrol PIOs are available to assist with communications and education.