BOARD MOVES FORWARD ON DRUG-TESTING POLICY

A representative from the company that does drug testing for Kanawha
County school bus drivers countered teachers unions' fears by
providing more information about the drug tests and how they're performed.

The school board wants to extend the drug tests to teachers,
principals and other personnel.

"We're very careful to protect a person's privacy, both medically
and personally. We don't accompany someone into a restroom or stand
behind them. That would only be in extreme cases," said Randy
Pauley, an employee with Examination Management Systems Inc.

Pauley contends the drug testing is not as invasive as teachers
unions have depicted them.

Bill McGinley, general counsel for West Virginia Education
Association, told school board members earlier in the meeting that
drug testing would mean stripping off layers of clothes. He even
warned against eating foods with poppy seeds, for fear of the
ingredient showing up as an opiate drug.

"I think they're presenting a somewhat inaccurate representation of
what goes on," Pauley said.

The school board still plans to move forward in developing a drug
testing policy. Kanawha Schools Superintendent Ron Duerring told
board members Thursday night he expects to have a rough draft of the
policy by February.

School board members unanimously agreed at a meeting last month to
develop the drug testing policy.

The decision came soon after Pratt Elementary School Principal David
Anderson, 42, was arrested and charged with cocaine possession.

The principal was arrested outside the Washington Manor public
housing complex. Charleston Police found a plastic bag containing
0.2 grams of cocaine in his back pocket.

Also at the meeting, school board members voted 4-0 to fire two
employees, J. Kimmons Kessel and Stephen Carpenter. Kessel was a
teacher at Tyler Middle School, George Washington High School and
various schools in the county. Carpenter was a bus driver.

Kessel, who was present at Thursday's board meeting, told school
board members she felt the decision to suspend her without pay and
then terminate her employment was unfair.

She contends she was suspended and subsequently fired because of
miscommunication between her and supervisors.

Teachers and other school system employees typically are not fired
on first offense, said board member Pete Thaw. Usually repeat
suspensions force the superintendent to terminate a teacher's
employment, he says.

"No, (firing a teacher is) not usual. You've got to have a good
case," Thaw said.

"When the administration decides it's time to get rid of somebody,
I'm reluctant to not go along with them."

Board members briefly discussed Point Harmony Elementary School and
its designation as next year's major improvement project.

Facilities director Chuck Wilson told board members Thursday night
that he has started to draft a proposal, asking for funds to expand
the crowded elementary school.

But board member Bill Raglin questioned the commitment to Point
Harmony. He contends the overcrowding situation at Flinn Elementary
is just as bad, if not worse.

"Before we make that commitment, I think we should look at their
situation, too, and maybe consider them," Raglin said.

Kanawha Schools Superintendent Ron Duerring agreed the school's
situation should be looked into and addressed, but reminded Raglin
of the board's commitment

"We already made that verbal commitment. They came to us in a public
meeting," he said.

In January, after meeting with community members, parents and
teachers, school board members decided to eliminate some of the
elementary school's portables, which teachers complained had mold.

Eliminating the portables forced administrators to squeeze more
students and teachers into the already-crowded school.

Fellow board members Becky Jordon, Jim Crawford and Thaw agreed
Point Harmony should remain the major improvement project for next year.

Also at Thursday's meeting, Beverly Jarrett, Kanawha schools safety
director, presented a quarterly safety report for the months of
July, August and September.

There were 23 worker's compensation claims during those three
months, compared to 36 last fall and 37 the year before.

Results of the school system's annual safety inspection also were
discussed. On the list of items that need to be addressed were
several out-of-date fire extinguishers in schools, carpet
cleanliness and mulch on playgrounds.

Five schools were recognized for their cleanliness, neatness,
organization and overall safety. They are: South Charleston High
School, Dunbar Middle, Alum Creek Elementary, Bonham Elementary and
Kenna Elementary.