NO SCHOOL VOTE IN NOVEMBER

The Sedalia school board will not place a school construction
referendum on the November ballot.

The board agreed Monday it needs more time to host town hall meetings
on the issue and develop alternative plans should another referendum
fail.

Voters on June 6 rejected a 69-cent tax increase to pay for a $26.5
million building project, including $17.9 million for a new high school.

Board member Jeffrey Sharp said the board may need to consider
lowering the tax increase request and looking at "a better piece of
land" because of public criticism of the site south of town along U.S.
65.

"I think the longer we delay a vote, the harder we have to work on
these alternative programs," he said.

Alternative programs include year-round school, split-shift school
sessions and setting up trailers to supplement classroom space.

Superintendent Doug Ebersold said after the meeting that these would
be discussed in September.

Board member Scott Gardner said the district could find money to make
building repairs by offering bus service only to students who live at
least three and a-half miles from a school. Now, students who live a
mile from school may use the buses.

Board member Jeff Redford said the district must find money to fix the
wiring at Washington Elementary School.

"It's dangerous," Mr. Redford said. "It's not up to code and it needs
to be to code."

The Board of Education was scheduled to vote on a drug testing policy
for students, but postponed a decision until at least Aug. 14.

Terry Kelley, a Sedalia parent, said programs such as Sedalia Taking a
New Direction should not have to compete with a drug testing program
for money.

Students involved in STAND talk to elementary school students about
the dangers of drugs and how to resist peer pressure. One proposal is
to use the STAND money to pay for $7,500 in drug testing.

Head football coach Mark Johnson said he has no problem with drug
testing as long as all students involved in extracurricular and
co-curricular activities are tested. Mr. Johnson said Smith-Cotton
High School does not have a steroid-use problem.

Athletic Director Rob Davis said he talked to all coaches and did not
find one against drug testing as long as it's not just the athletes
being tested.

Mr. Redford said he has read about more schools testing students for
illicit drug use.

"I feel it's something we need to take a look at," he said.

Dr. Ebersold said he is still trying to determine if the district
could purchase insurance to help parents pay for counseling if a
student tests positive for drugs.

Dr. Sharp said he would favor testing only if it does not replace
existing programs. He said high school students should be tested
first, then later expand the program to include middle school students.