RV approves contract with Providence Working Canines to search schools

The Royal Valley USD 337 Board of Education has entered into a contract with Providence Working Canines to conduct random searches next year at both the high school and middle school. 

During the board’s meeting Monday, the board agreed to contract with the company, which has offices in Overland Park and Tulsa, Okla., and their dogs, for 10 random visits next year. These specially trained dogs can detect illicit substances, alcohol beverages, commonly abused medications and numerous firearms, it was reported. 

The estimated cost for the one-year contract is $6,000 plus expenses. 

“I asked them, based upon our school size, how many visits they would recommend for this to be effective, and they said 10,” said RVHS Principal Jim Holloman. “These dogs can smell alcohol and guns, and they can smell all types of narcotics while other search dogs we’ve used in the past are limited.”

Holloman said that he and RVMS Principal John Linn will work with the company to determine what school dates will work best for the searches. 

The company charges $300 for half a day of work or $600 for a full day. Holloman said that it may take a full day to search both schools. 

If the dogs “hit” on something, they could be there longer than the scheduled half a day, Holloman said. 

“The first visit would be an assembly with the entire school where the company would come in and explain their procedures, what they do and why they are there,” he said. “They are there not to catch criminals but to keep the schools safe. That’s the objective.” 

Holloman said that the dogs search the vehicles in the parking lots and in classrooms that are randomly selected. 

With a classroom search with Providence Working Canines, Holloman said that students would be asked to leave their backpacks in the classroom and to vacate the room so it could be searched. 

“The dogs will also sniff the chairs because the dogs can pick up the scent from the air,” he said. “So it will be important that our teachers have seating charts.”

Currently, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office provides drug-sniffing dogs at the school two to three times a year.

In those searches, the dogs search the parking lots, lockers, locker rooms and backpacks that are left outside in the hallways.

The board unanimously agreed to contract with Providence Working Canines for 10 visits for both schools for the 2016-2017 school year. 

In other business, the board:

* Approved consent items. 

* Received a report from board member Ann Kelly, who attended the Governmental Relations Network meeting in Topeka recently.

Kelly said speakers discussed how academic success will now be measured and outlined the new Every Student Succeeds Act. 

* Accepted a $700 Target Field Grant, which will be used to fund a field trip for eighth-grade students to attend the Da Vinci exhibit at Union Station in Kansas City. 

* Received preliminary enrollment projections for the 2016-2017 school year. The projected headcount is 828 students, depending on kindergarten enrollment. 

* Reviewed and approved the district’s summer school plans. 

A course recovery session will be held for any non-graduating seniors if it’s necessary at RVHS. Also, a driver’s education course will be offered.

* Received and approved curriculum and fee changes at the high school for the next school year.

Holloman outlined the changes to the board, which include allowing students to take the required personal finance class anytime between their sophomore and senior years. Students were previously required to take the class their sophomore year. 

“This will give the kids some more flexibility with their schedule,” Holloman said. 

In addition, the name of the Success 101 class has been changed to Career and Life Planning. 

The course description for Nutrition and Wellness has been revised to eliminate the cooking component and the $20 course fee while a new class, Culinary Essentials, has been added. A $20 fee will be required for this new course, it was reported. 

The board also agreed to add a course called Transition to College Algebra, which is a yearlong course for high school seniors who need a fourth credit in math. 

* Discussed possible vehicle and equipment purchases for the next school year. Superintendent John Rundle reported that, regarding transportation, a van is needed for special education with an estimated price of $20,000. 

Another new bus is also being considered for purchase, and that could run the district $85,000. 

New lighting is also needed in the high school gym, Rundle said, with an estimated cost of $20,000. 

At the middle school, the technology at the computer lab needs to be upgrade, and those purchases could run between $50,000 to $60,000, Rundle reported. 

The board briefly discussed the potential purchases and agreed that Rundle could contact vendors for bids on the items. 

* Met in executive session for 15 minutes with Rundle to discuss non-elected personnel.

Back in open session, the board offered a two-year administrative contract to current RVHS Assistant Principal Travis Van Vleck and a one-year extension to all other administrator contracts.

The board approved a contract with Kevin Cathcart as an assistant wrestling coach for the remainder of the season. 

The board also approved the retirement of Rundle effective July 31, as well as approved an agreement with the Kansas Association of School Board to help conduct the search for a new superintendent (see related article). 

* Adjourned the meeting. All board members were present.