CULPEPER SCHOOL BOARD WON'T DISCUSS DRUG TESTING

Culpeper School Board Meets

The Culpeper County School Board last night refused to even discuss a
random drug-testing policy for its employees.

A citizen letter several months ago prompted the School Board's
Administrative Committee to address drug testing at its April meeting.

That letter, according to committee member Rusty Jenkins, recommended
random testing for all School Board members and all school employees,
including bus drivers and teachers.

Jenkins said the Administrative Committee felt that the cost of such a
testing program would be prohibitive and that there would be legal
issues involved.

Still, Jenkins said, the Administrative Committee felt that drug
testing was an issue that the entire School Board should address.

The board didn't want to address it, and the matter was dropped
without being discussed.

At last night's meeting and work session, Jenkins also questioned
construction projects manager Hunter Spencer as to why there were
cracks in the concrete floors at the new Eastern View High School.

Spencer replied that the small cosmetic cracks were "part of the
nature of concrete" and were not structural problems. He said such
cracks were acceptable in his view.

"I'm upset that we spent that much money for a school, and we have
cracks in it," Jenkins said, adding that the defects were clearly
visible at the new school's ded-ication last week.

Spencer also told the Board that Eastern View still has not received a
final occ-upancy permit although furniture is being moved into the
building.

"There were about a dozen things, mostly safety-related, that the
building inspectors were concerned about," Spencer said. "All but two
or three have already been addressed."

Spencer said the main concern was a fire test in the school's server
room. He added that he had rejected a limited construction completion
contract from the school's contractor last week because of financial
liability concerns.

Furniture is being brought into Eastern View under a temporary
conditional occupancy permit.

A final permit should be issued during the next several weeks, Spencer
said. The school opens in seven weeks.

Spencer told the School Board that work is progressing at Yowell
Elementary but hedged on venturing an opinion as to whether the new
school would be ready to open in August.