TRUSTEES COULD ADOPT DRUG TESTING POLICY ON TUESDAY

The Churchill County School District Board of Trustees meets Tuesday
instead of its regular Thursday meeting schedule.

The board could act on a proposed drug and alcohol testing policy
that would apply to all employees in the district. The topic is on
the agenda as an action item.

A committee that has been studying the proposal is meeting today at
5:30 p.m. to continue discussing whether "reasonable suspicion"
should be a criteria before drug testing when a worker's
compensation claim is filed.

Some committee members had asked for a legal opinion on the issue
before making recommendations to the school board on the policy.

The draft policy requires drug and alcohol testing when an employee
files a worker's compensation claim, after an accident causing more
than $1,000 in damage and when there is reasonable suspicion that an
employee is using drugs or alcohol at work.

"When a supervisor trained in detecting the indicators of
alcohol/substance abuse has reasonable suspicion to believe an
employee has violated a condition of this policy they will contact
another trained supervisor to substantiate their suspicion. Two
trained supervisors must observe behavior supporting reasonable
suspicion to proceed to the Alcohol and Drug Program Manager," an
addition to the proposed policy states.

A training session has been set for Dec. 7 for supervisors to learn
what constitutes reasonable suspicion and how to spot signs of drug
or alcohol use. The draft policy indicates it will go into effect Jan. 1.

The district contends a high number of worker's compensation claims
and increased cost for insurance prompted the need for a drug and
alcohol testing policy.

Also on Tuesday's agenda is a recommendation to hire a new
maintenance manager for the school district.

The position has been open since July when former maintenance
manager Chuck Hewitt resigned after eight months on the job. Hewitt
said he left the district because he disagreed with the way the
district handled the potential danger from leaking fluorescent
light fixtures containing hazardous chemicals.

Finance director Jim Sustacha will report to the board on the
2005-06 audit and the financial impact of a new formula for per
pupil allocations from the state.

An update is also planned on a request for bond money to fix schools.

No details on any of the agenda items were posted on the school
district Web site as of Thursday afternoon.

The board meets at 7 p.m. in the district administration building,
545 E. Richards St.