Saga of drug testing policy comes to an end
For a while Monday night it appeared the saga of the Marion schools drug testing policy would face yet another stalemate.
But in the end four Marion-Florence USD 408 Board of Education members gave their approval to a policy which will allow the random testing of students involved in extra-curricular activities.
During the December meeting, the board voted 5-2 to approve the policy with changes made by The Consortium, the organization that will be conducting the testing. The stipulation was made that the board would give their final approval during the January meeting.
Board member Gene Bowers found a discrepency Monday between the district's original illegal substance policy as published in the district handbook, and the new one approved in December.
The original and current policy allows the school district to act on information provided by outside agencies. For example, tests conducted by law enforcement officers or other officers of the court.
The new policy did not include that stipulation.
"It throws everyone into a testing mode," Bowers said. "We want to include students who get DUIs (driving under the influence), MIPs (minor in possession or MICs (minor in consumption)."
Superintendent of Schools Gerry Henderson explained that was an error of omission on his part and it would be corrected.
Bowers also had concerns about the section which discusses consequences for failure to submit to random testing. Specifically, failure to submit means the student is "ineligible to participate in any extra-curricular activity including practices, meetings, performances or competition for 18 consecutive schools weeks."
He noted the consequences for failing to take the test were more severe than the consequences for those who test positive. Those students are still allowed to participate in some manner.
"What I'm saying is if you're morally or politically opposed to drug testing, it's the same as a positive," Bowers said. "I figured a refusal is the same as a positive. Actually, it's much worse than a positive."
In a related matter, Henderson said the revised policy — based on the suggestion of The Consortium — included a section regarding the random testing of students attending school dances using a breathalyzer.
Board member Roger Hannaford III asked whether or not a school dance was considered an extra-curricular activity by the Kansas High School Activities Association.
Board president Rex Savage replied it was not and that students do not receive grades for attending dances.
Hannaford asked if the breathalyzer would be used at every dance, if everyone attending would be tested, and who would be doing the testing.
Henderson replied the policy allows the school to perform random tests at a dance at the district's discretion. Testing would be done by either personnel from The Consortium or local law enforcement, who are trained in use of the breathalyzer.
"The consequences are you don't attend the dance and we call your folks," Henderson said.
Hannaford said he would vote against the policy.
"This keeps getting further and further out of my comfort zone," Hannaford said. "Testing at dances wasn't in the policy."
Savage disagreed, "We talked about testing at dances from the get-go."
Board member Keith Collett moved to table the decision indicating he expected Hannaford and Bowers to vote against the policy. Only five members — Collett, Hannaford, Bowers, Savage and Bruce Skiles — were in attendance.
"I look around and I see 3-2 (vote)," Collett said.
Bowers, however, indicated he planned to vote in favor of the policy.
The board voted 4-1 to pass the illegal substance policy for students involved in extra-curricular activities. Hannaford cast the negative vote.
League affiliation
MHS Principal Ken Arnhold said members of the Mid-Central Activities Association had met recently and planned to ask their respective boards for permission to add Marion and Hoisington to the league.
A decision should be final by late February or March, Arnhold said.
"Six schools requested entry," Arnhold said.
Currently, the MCAA includes Hillsboro, Hesston, Halstead, Lyons, Wichita Collegiate, Smoky Valley (Lindsborg), Haven, Ellinwood, Sterling and Nickerson.
The addition of Marion and Hoisington would make it a 12-team league.
"Currently, they're divided by large school/small school," Arnhold said, explaining how games are determined. "There's been some talk about dividing them by geography, but it will probably stay large school/small school."
Henderson complimented the work of Arnhold and MMS Principal/Activity Director Tod Gordon in helping the district secure a league invitation so quickly.
"We're getting some positive feedback (about the two)," Henderson said. "They've spent a lot of time talking to their counterparts in their various league activities."
In other matters, the board:
— Congratulated Marion High School senior Jason Matz on his post-season football honors which involved being named to area teams in various newspapers.
— Thanked Marion Middle School student Curt Hanson for his letter asking that band not be cut if budget cuts made it necessary to begin slashing programs. Henderson said that as long as he was superintendent that would not happen. He also complimented the student on his persistence.
— Distributed copies of a proposed science curriculum guide for discussion during the February meeting.
— Hannaford commented during the recent TEEN meeting members discussed unsolicited e-mail and the use of filters.
— Marion Elementary School Principal Stan Ploutz said he and several staff had attended a conference Monday. He noted 220 people "interested in the future of education" had attended. He also said five high school students were working with the Big Brother/Big Sister organization with various MES students.
Arnhold noted the MHS Key Club had taken the BBBS program on as a project. He also noted language arts teachers would travel to Herington to participate in the first of a series of meetings where they share lesson plans and the like. Marion will host a math meeting for the group on Feb. 7, he said.
— Board Clerk/Business Manager Martin Tice noted the Marion Police Department had arrested an alleged suspect in the robbery at Marion Elementary School. He commended the police department for their work.
