WEBSTER SCHOOL BOARD ADOPTS DRUG POLICY

Despite some concern among Webster County Board of Education members
regarding the protection of confidentiality for those who might test
positive for drugs, members at their meeting Thursday night, July 20,
approved on a 4-0 vote a new policy that includes mandatory random drug
testing for employees, students who participate in extracurricular
activities, drive a personal vehicle on school property, or students who
operate heavy machinery in the Area Technology Center's workshops.

Board member Tim McCormick expressed concern that the superintendent might
have to tell certain staff members if a student tests positive for drug use.

"My concern is the order in which it goes down the line," McCormick said
during the meeting. "I understand (Kemp) is the first one (to be informed).
Where does it go next? Is there a procedure?"

Nance and Kemp responded by saying the parent and student involved would be
the only ones informed.

"You're saying if there's a positive (test result), nobody will be involved
except you and the parent?" McCormick asked Kemp.

"The parent and I are the only two who are even included," Kemp answered.

"How can you not include your building administrator?" McCormick asked.

"The only time the building administrator would be included... would be if
there had been a positive test of a student involved in an extracurricular
activity," Kemp said.

"That concerns me," McCormick said.

"Well, Tim, that's a weakness of this," Kemp said, adding that other
schools are struggling with the same issue.

After the meeting, McCormick told The J-E "if the building administrator
(where the student attends) doesn't need to know, then that administrator
shouldn't be told."

"My main concern is the confidentiality," McCormick said.

Board attorney Amelia Zachary also expressed concern about language within
the policy that could create difficulities for the board to dismiss staff
charged with manufacturing illegal substances such as methamphetamine.
Specifically, Zachary said, the policy prohibits illegal drugs "in the
workplace," but not elsewhere.

"My concern is that if someone gets charged with manufacturing
methamphetamine, and they're teaching our children or taking care of our
children everyday, it takes two years to go through the court system before
there's any type of conviction," Zachary said.

"You all may not want them there, but you may have written your policy in
such a way that it doesn't give you the authority to get rid of the (staff
member)."

She recommended the board remove the language that limits when action for
drug manufacturing or use could be taken to school property.

Nance asked the board to adopt the policy as is, and make additional
changes as needed later on.

"What I don't want to do is adopt the policy and then all of a sudden have
to defend it in court every day," he said.

He also expressed concern about how much time has already been spent
preparing the policy.

"This is a place to start," board member E Carolyn Tucker agreed.

The board then approved the policy as proposed.

Kemp later told The J-E the main goal of the policy is to discourage the
use of illegal substances among students.

"We're trying to provide individuals with an opportunity to say no," Kemp
said, referring to the possibility of peer pressure.

He said the policy is also important to help students who do test positive
"to get help."

Maintaining confidentiality is also a top concern, he added.

When asked how confidentiality could be maintained if a student who tests
positive for drug use isn't allowed to participate in sports or to use
heavy machinery in one of the ATC workshops, Kemp said the drug policy
isn't the only district policy that affects student participation in
extracurricular activities.

At its meeting, the Webster County school board also defeated a proposal to
honor a maximum of 10 years of work experience in related fields when
considering starting salaries for new hires for maintenance and technology
personnel only.

At issue is the varying amount of pay district staff members earn based on
their work experience not directly related to school work. An example might
be an "over-the-road" truck driver who is hired to drive a school bus. It
doesn't affect new hires who have worked for a previous school system.

McCormick, who made the motion, said he thinks maintenance, and technology,
after assistant superintendent Rachel Yarbrough pointed out a need to
include that category, are the only areas where the policy matters. Board
members have previously debated what the maximum number of years allowed to
determine credit should be. Currently the board has a "moratorium" on
approving pay based on previous work experience in a related field.

Yarbrough said some the district have interviewed have turned down job
offers because of the current experience-based pay freeze.

After the motion failed to pass, Nance asked for a motion based on a
maximum of five years experience, but no one made the motion.

Tucker then asked Kemp to place the item on a future agenda, "possibly at a
board retreat."

Prior to the vote, discussion of the issue broadened into a greater need to
review the entire salary scale.

Board members have consistently expressed a desire to pay higher salaries,
but cite a lack of adequate funds to do so.

In other business, the Webster County Board of Education:

heard a presentation from district architect Tim Townsend of Townsend and
Associates regarding several ongoing district construction projects;

approved a list of "consent items," including 2006-2007 contracts with
Methodist Home Hospital Health Agency and Evansville Association for the
Blind, school activity reports for the district's five facilities, and
budget amendments;

heard a report from Kemp regarding ongoing work at Webster County High
School and other school concerns, but took no action on the report.

tabled discussion of tuition assistance for "professional development;" and,

reviewed a list of personnel changes, including the employment of Shelby
Dunville, Shayne Mercer, Julio Sanchez, Mendi Wyatt, Jeff Yates, Tina
Eastwood, and Phyllis Moore, the resignation of Jenny Borum, and a change
in assignment for Dennis Parrish.