PLEASANT AGREEMENT STRESSES ALL BE DRUG-FREE CAMPUS

Teachers, Administrators Sign On For Testing ... Same As Students

MARION - Teachers and administrators will join students as Pleasant
Local Schools takes its drug-free pledge to another level.

The Pleasant Education Association, which represents 83 teachers, has
agreed to drug testing as part of its new three-year contract.
Pleasant Board of Education President Gary Sims and Superintendent
John Bruno said the board also plans to pass a policy that would
require administrators to be tested.

"We want to make sure we have a drug-free campus," said Bruno. "If we
expect to be role models, we must agree to a level of
accountability."

Pleasant Middle School science teacher Joann Divish, president of the
association, said three union members voted against the contract.
She said she had talked with teachers at Pleasant elementary, middle
and high schools before bringing up the issue to the
association.

"Most people took the attitude, 'We aren't doing anything wrong so
why would we care,'" said Divish, who said there were a few concerned
that such testing violated their rights.

Under a policy enacted in 2005, middle and high school students who
play sports, take part in extracurricular activities like music or
drive to school must take a drug test before school and are subject
to random drug testing. Out of 550 students tested, Bruno said there
had been a few who tested positive, including one who had falsely
tested positive because of prescription medication.

"I want to thank the teachers for putting a good foot forward," said
Sims, who said the board felt that it was important that staff
members ask the same thing of themselves as they ask of students.

Divish said some of the teachers had already voluntarily been tested
along with students.

"We have no problems with this," she said, agreeing with Sims that it
sets a good example for students.

Bruno said teachers and administrators will be tested before the
school year but will not be subjected to random testing. The district
does not have a pre-employment drug screening policy.

The superintendent said the district would seek treatment for any
staff members who test positive, though continual failure of tests
could result in termination of employment.

Ohio Education Association media relations consultant Michele Prater
said the information was not accessible Friday, but that the
association had already been asked to research its database to see
how many school districts test teachers.

Bonnie Joseph, Ohio Education Association representative for all
Marion County schools except Ridgedale Local Schools, said bus
drivers are tested but it is very uncommon for teachers to be tested.
She knew of no other districts within her area, which also includes
all but one school in Delaware County, that had such a stipulation as
part of their teachers' contracts.