RV B.O.E seeking input on drug use, potential drug testing policy

The Royal Valley Board of Education is seeking community input on whether the district should develop and implement a policy that would allow students to be randomly tested for drugs.

Board members agreed during their meeting Monday evening that they want to hear the opinions of community members before taking any steps to develop a random drug testing policy. 

“We don’t want to rush into anything,” said Board President Pat Tuck. “We need to take our time and do it correctly.”

Board members spent 40 minutes of their meeting sharing their thoughts and concerns about developing a potential policy that would allow the random drug testing of students involved in extracurricular activities at the middle and high schools. 

It was agreed that board members want to have “open ended” discussions with members of the public on whether there is an issue with drugs in the schools and what the district’s role should be in combating the issue. 

“I want to see community input,” said Linda Hegemann, board member. “I don’t want to force this on anyone. I want to hear other people’s ideas. We live in a small enough community where we can do that.”

Superintendent John Rundle, with input from administrators, suggested that board members seek opinions from a variety of groups, including student councils, current students, parents, school site councils, recreation association board members, tribal council representatives, booster club members, PLC leadership teams, faculty, coaches and local law enforcement. 

Rundle said that site council meetings have already been set for this fall and he would contract administrators about placing a discussion on random drug testing on their agendas.

He also said he would provide board members with a list of dates and times that site councils were expected to meet so that board members could attend the meetings to facilitate the discussion. 

Several board members noted that when they attend any parent, staff or student meeting to discuss a drug policy, they shouldn’t approach the meetings with any agenda. 

“We shouldn’t go there trying to sell a policy but just to listen,” said Cindy Broxterman, board member. “We need to see if this is as big of an issue as some think.”

Board member Jeff Stithem introduced the idea of implementing a drug policy this summer. 

“I’ve talked to more than 30 parents, and I’ve never had one tell me that they didn’t think it was a good idea,” Stithem said. “More than half of those said we should test the entire student body. There’s a wide range of thought out there.” 

Board member Jim O’Toole said that with the declining funds for schools, he is concerned with the cost of testing students, as well as the time administrators are going to spend tracking students down to be tested.

Both Santa Fe Trail and Seaman districts have drug-testing policies in place, Stithem said, noting that the district could look at those policies for guidance. 

“With the policies I’ve looked at, the emphasis is on rehabilitation,” Stithem said. “We want to help students stop destructive behavior and give them a second chance. This is our opportunity to rehabilitate the kids while we can help them. In my mind, I look at it as an opportunity to protect kids. My number one goal is to get drugs out of the school. It’s not to punish kids. This is a passion of mind. I think we have an opportunity, at some level, to help these kids be drug-free and graduate. If we spend $10,000 a year on drug testing and help one kid, it’s worth it.” 

Rundle said that the board can “lean on” administrators to gather information from students and faculty about their thoughts on drugs in the district and how it should it be handled. 

Board members also agreed that a community forum will need to be held in the future to address the issue. 

District patrons with opinions on the issue are encouraged to contact school board members. Members include Pat Tuck, Jeff Stithem, Jim O’Toole, Ann Kelly, Cindy Broxterman, Boone Smith and Linda Hegemann. 

In other business, the board:

* Approved consent items.

* Was introduced to new district employee Roenette Oestreich, special education teacher. 

* Discussed board member attendance at the Kansas Association of School Boards conference, which is set for Dec. 4-6 in Wichita. 

* Approved a request from Nathan McAlister, RVMS history teacher, to designate April 25-29 as “Celebrate Freedom Week.” The school’s history fair will be held that Friday, April 29. 

* Approved a request from the Jackson County Historical Society to use two district buses for the Jackson County Barn Tour, set for Oct. 3 and Oct. 10. The historical society will pay for mileage expenses and also contract with two of the district’s bus drivers for the tour. 

* Received a district fall athletic participation report from Jeff Gustin, athletic director, as well as an activity report from the high school. 

A total of 73 students are participating in football this year at the middle school and high school levels while 55 students have signed up for volleyball in grades seven through 12.

Sixteen girls and 22 boys are involved in cross-country this year. A total of 21 students are participating in cheerleading and eight are involved in dance. 

In total, 50 percent of middle school and high school students are involved in a fall sport.

In addition, a total of 65 high school students (27 males and 38 females) are in band this year and 43 students (11 males and 32 females) are involved in choir.  

A total of 19 students are involved in student council at RVHS.

* Received an update from Susan Pfrang, director of curriculum and instruction, on potential updates to the district’s curriculum for next year. 

Pfrang said that the district is looking into new social studies textbooks, as well as updates in science curriculum to match the Next Generation Science Standards. 

Pfrang also discussed the new state assessments and how their results are measured. 

“The assessment is more rigorous,” Pfrang said.  “It will be a tough transition to make.”

Pfrang said the reasoning behind the tougher test is to reduce remediation and drop out rates of college students.

* Received a budget update from Rundle. 

* Received a district maintenance update from Rundle, who discussed fall projects at district buildings and facilities. 

* Received an update on the district’s crisis plan. Rundle said that the plan is updated every year as new policies are recommended by law enforcement. 

Rundle said that district staff are redeveloping the policy to separate the protocol for when an intruder is in a building and when an intruder in on school grounds.

Rundle said that depending on the situation, some doors will be locked and others may remain unlocked. 

* Approved the tuition reimbursement report for the 2014-2015 school year.

* Approved a list of final district staff development points from the 2014-2015 school year.

* Approved the IDEA Title VIB (early childhood special education) assurances as presented. 

* Approved the lease purchase payment of $48,897.88 to Security Bank of Kansas City. 

* Approved KASB board policy updates as presented.

* Accepted the $700 donation to the RVHS football program from Farmers Insurance. 

* Accepted the resignation of Janet Dunn as a RVES paraprofessional. The board also approved contracts for Brenda Hainey as the high school assistant track coach and Michael Healy as a part-time technology assistant. 

* Met in executive session with Jeff Gustin, athletic director, for 10 minutes to review spring coaching evaluations. 

No action was taken back in open session.

* Adjoined the meeting at 9:25 p.m. All board members were present.