CHATHAM -- The School District of the Chathams approved a new policy Monday night permitting school officials to test students for alcohol use at random at school-sponsored events.

Superintendent Michael LaSusa told NJ Advance Media the district has had a policy in place since 2008 permitting school officials to screen every student attending a school-sponsored event. Under the new policy, school officials can test students who attend school functions at random or as a pre-selected number, such as every five students entering the event, he said.

LaSusa said there have incidents over the past few years in which intoxicated students required treatment from emergency personnel at school-sponsored events. The revised policy, he said, was the district's way of deterring underage drinking.

The 2008 policy, however, has been a paper tiger. The school district has not once tested the entire student body for alcohol use since the policy was developed because the district doesn't have devices capable of doing so, LaSusa said.

The new policy is effective immediately but it likely won't be put into effect until alcohol screening devices are purchased by the district, he said.

The revised policy, which is outlined in an attachment on the school's website, allows school officials to use a passive breath alcohol sensor device before, during and after school activities and events "including but not limited to: dances, athletic events, proms, class trips, drama productions, graduation ceremonies, or school assemblies when the Building Principal or designee has reason to believe the use of alcohol by pupils may be present."

The school district currently has a policy requiring the testing of students suspected of using drugs or alcohol on school property or at school-sponsored events, but that policy requires testing by a physician off the premises, LaSusa said.

Justin Zaremba may be reached at jzaremba@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JustinZarembaNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.