BUTTE TRUSTEES TABLE PROPOSAL FOR DRUG TESTING OF SOME TEACHERS

BUTTE -- Butte school trustees were uncomfortable on Monday with
changing district policy to allow art, chemistry or welding teachers
to be subject to drug testing similar to that required of bus drivers.

The board tabled a proposal that would have added any employee
working in a hazardous environment to be subject to drug testing.
Trustees heard a complaint from Mike Kujawa, a Butte High art teacher
and president of the Butte Teachers' Union, that the rule would have
segregated some teachers for extra scrutiny.

"If it's going to affect 10 teachers out of 300 teachers, we don't
feel that's fair," Kujawa said during a board meeting.

The board in updating policies for Butte teachers and staff
considered the change. Bus and commercial drivers are already subject
to drug and alcohol testing under district rules.

Therese McClafferty, human resources director, said the district
would like to have the ability to do post-accident drug testing for
teachers and staff members who work in a hazardous setting. That
would include teachers working with chemicals, such as chemistry and
art instructors, as well as welding teachers.

But the proposal drew scrutiny from several board members. They
agreed with Kujawa that it would divide the teachers into categories.

"Is there going to be a list identifying who falls under that?"
trustee Scott Ferguson asked. "How will somebody know?"

And Rayelynn Connole asked why the district wouldn't make the policy
apply to all teachers.

"We're kind of grouping people in a way I don't think we want to," she said.

The board decided to send the proposal back to the policy committee
for further consideration.