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 By JENNIFER TANGEMAN
Staff Writer
Few people exhibit an enthusiasm about historical artifacts as Jim Bowsher does.
When crews working for G.A. Wintzer and Son Co. started working to build new office space on West Auglaize Street, they came across some interesting finds where a rental home had previously sat.
Jim Kent and others of Kent Surveying began finding pieces of artifacts. They called in local history buff, Bowsher, to try to figure out what the bits and pieces meant.
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WCS drug testing policy on the line |
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Tuesday, 01 September 2009 |
 Members of Wapakoneta City Schools activities including football, band and cheerleading would be subject to drug testing if the Board of Education adopts a drug policy drafted by a committee of staff and students. Band creates a problem because a positive test should not affect grades and grades are given to band students. Staff photo/William Laney By KAREN CAMPBELL
Assistant Managing Editor
As of yet, student athletes and those involved in extracurriculars are not to be randomly drug tested this fall.
Wapakoneta City Schools Board of Education members continue to mull over a policy recommended to them this spring.
“The idea isn’t to pick on a child, but the idea is to get a child to lead a cleaner life,” board member Ron Mertz said of the policy, as board members continue to discuss whether the policy, if enacted, could be used year round for students participating in one extracurricular activity.
Board President Laura Frame said the hope is to help students reach their maximum potential as students and athletes.
But not all school board members are in agreement with the policy.
“I have trouble supporting this,” board member Pat Gibson said. “We need to give the power to the parents. We need to hold parents responsible in some fashion. I understand the policy and the intent behind it, but are we taking something that should be done at the parent level and legislating it as a board?
“I understand we don’t live in a ‘Leave it to Beaver’ world, but what else are we going to pick up?” Gibson said. “Could we better channel our resources to strengthen education.”
Gibson said he felt those with a problem would continue to roll the dice anyway to see if their luck continues and they are not randomly selected to take one of the drug tests.
Superintendent Keith Horner said Gibson’s concerns are valid in a society where schools do pick up more and more duties and the district could do more to prevent drug and alcohol problems before they start.
Also expressing concerns have been leaders of certain extracurriculars, such as band, where activities outside of school tie in to grades and assignments.
As it is written now, the policy is not to impact grades.
“We still want to clean up our kids,” Athletic Director Brad Rex said.
According to the policy, random drug tests would be conducted of students “in all athletic related extracurriculars, including cheerleading in eighth through 12th grades, band and all associated groups, and show choir and all associated groups grades nine through 12.”
An independent drug testing vendor would perform the tests which 20 percent of eligible students would be selected for randomly by computer at regular intervals.
The proposed policy states that there is a need for the testing as there has been “observed and suspected use of alcohol and illicit drugs by school students” and it is a “serious concern.”
Two students involved in extracurricular activities were suspended last year for drug or alcohol offenses, Horner said.
Pictures of students partaking in alcoholic activities also have been presented to school administrators by law enforcement and others.
A program of deterrence would be instituted as a pro-active approach to a truly drug-free school, according to the proposed policy. It would provide for the safety of all students, undermine the effects of peer pressure, encourage students who use drugs to participate in drug treatment programs and prevent the impact drug and alcohol use has on learning centers of the brain.
Citing U.S. Supreme Court cases in 1995 and 2002, the policy states that random urine drug testing of a public school has been determined legal.
Drugs which students could be tested for could include alcohol, nicotine and 13 other types ranging from barbiturates and metabolites to marijuana and steroids.
Students would have one opportunity to admit using illegal substances prior to being selected for random testing and could attend counseling at their cost and be part of five additional random tests without penalty from extracurriculars.
If a student tests positive, they are to be suspended for 20 percent of the regular season and enroll in counseling for their first offense.
If a student test positive a second time, they would be suspended from the extracurricular for a calendar year for the second offense, and with the third positive test would become ineligible for the remainder of his or her years at Wapakoneta High School.
The proposed policy states that no student will be penalized academically for testing positive for illegal drugs or banned substances and the results of the tests will not be documented in their academic records.
Parents and students would both sign consent forms prior to the extracurricular season beginning.
“The board continues to consider the policy,” Horner said during an interview with the Wapakoneta Daily News on Monday.
He said there is no timeline for such a decision, but rather it’s a policy that is important for board members to take their time to ponder all aspects.
Rather than being concerned about certain points of the policy, Horner said board members are deciding whether it supports the philosophy of such a policy.
Last fall, several Wapakoneta coaches approached school board members about developing such a policy out of concern for students and athletes.
A committee was formed from students, coaches, faculty and community members to offer a recommendation, which was made this spring, to develop a random drug test for students involved in extracurricular activities.
The policy has since been reviewed by legal counsel with the current draft under review by school board members.
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 02 September 2009 )
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