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Thursday, 19 November 2009 |
By KAREN CAMPBELL
Assistant Managing Editor
By one vote, Wapakoneta City Schools Board of Education members implemented drug testing in the district for the 2010-11 school year.
The testing applies to students involved in all extracurricular activities, athletics, pep band, show choir and the Red Peppers, according to the resolution approved by board members during Tuesday’s meeting at Wapakoneta High School.
Casting dissenting votes in the 3-2 decision, were Pat Gibson and Willie Sammetinger. Voting in favor of it were Laura Frame, Eric McKinniss and Ron Mertz.
“I respect my colleagues’ position, but I feel it is a quantum leap to go from the policy we have now to this,” Gibson told the Wapakoneta Daily News after the meeting.
He and Sammetinger both said they could not support a policy that was not all inclusive of students in the district.
Gibson said he also felt that it took something away from parental responsibility which belongs in the home.
Mertz, who said he is a firm believer in leading by example, said he would be putting his name in the rotation to be randomly tested. He urged the rest of the board members and teachers to do the same.
McKinniss and Frame said they planned to join Mertz on the list. District administrators are to be included in random testing per the policy.
McKinniss thanked Bill Sammons and other coaches for bringing the issue to the attention of board members and the district and community committee that studied and offered a recommendation in the matter.
Superintendent Keith Horner said the policy is essentially the same as when it was recommended for review this summer.
“This went through a committee process and that committee made a recommendation to move forward with it after studying the issue,” Horner said. “We certainly respect all the work people put into this.
“We wanted this to help not hurt the kids,” he said. “Even if it means punishing them now, hopefully they learn lessons during their high school years before it becomes a big problem later in life. We also hope it serves as both a deterrent and an excuse for students to avoid peer pressure.”
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Last Updated ( Friday, 20 November 2009 )
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