LINTON STUDENTS TO GET OUT OF SCHOOL EARLIER

Starting Oct. 3, students at Linton-Stockton Schools will be released
a few minutes earlier.

On Monday, the Linton-Stockton School Board voted to change the
release time for junior high and high school students from 3:11 p.m.
to 3:03 p.m. It also voted to change the release time for elementary
students from 3 p.m. to 2:52 p.m.

High school Principal Nick Karazsia and junior high Principal Jeff
Sparks agreed that 40 minute lunches, which are currently held, are too long.

"The kids are sitting too long," Karazsia said. "The kids are telling
me that they have too much time."

Karazsia said the longer lunch periods are working out fairly well
now because students can go outside when they're finished eating;
however, once the weather becomes cooler that will change. He said
it'll be difficult to supervise all of the students.

Karazsia also noted that the earlier release time will help with
after school remediation.

At an earlier meeting, board member John Preble had asked Karazsia
and Sparks for an update on the school's drug testing policy.

The school's random drug testing is handled by Indiana Testing, Inc.,
based in Indianapolis, said superintendent Ron Bush. Random testing
is used for students involved in athletics and/or school-sponsored
extra-curricular activities; students who drive to school and/or
enroll in driver's education; and students who are under 18 and a
parent or guardian chooses to include them in the program or students
who volunteer to be included.

Each student is provided with a number, and the school provides
Indiana Testing, Inc., with a list of the numbers. When Indiana
Testing, Inc., comes to administer tests, they bring a certain amount
of numbers and alternate numbers in case of absences. Indiana
Testing, Inc. does not know the names of which students will be
tested, nor does the school. Bush said the school doesn't know in
advance when testing will be administered. He said Indiana Testing,
Inc. will call at approximately 7:45 a.m. and will arrive at the
school around 8 a.m.

Karazsia said the testing checks for about 10 different substances
including tobacco and drugs.

If a student tests positive for tobacco use, the parents will be
notified. If that student participates in an extra-curricular
activity, the coach or sponsor of that activity will also be notified.

"Stricter policy can be enforced by a coach," Karazsia said.

However, if students test positive for drug usage, they cannot
participate in any extra-curricular activity, Karazsia said.

If students refuse to be tested, they are considered to have tested
positive for drug usage, Karazsia said.

Both Karazsia and Sparks feel the drug testing policy has been a
positive for the corporation.

"Kids say they can't risk it (using drugs) because they may get
tested," Sparks said.

Bush also noted that the school offers testing kits to parents who
think their child may be using drugs.

Karazsia and Sparks noted that ISTEP testing begins today. Karazsia
said Graduation Qualifying Exam (GQE) also begins today.

Linton-Stockton is now a NASA Explorer School, and to celebrate that,
a launch party will be held Sept. 27 at 6 p.m. in the multi-purpose
room in the elementary. Bush said the launch program will allow those
in attendance to learn more about what it's like to be a NASA
Explorer School and to learn more about the new elementary science club.

Marge Lehky, an aerospace education specialist at NASA, will have a
presentation. Those in attendance will also be able to participate in
fun NASA activities, Bush said.

In other business, the board:

- - Hired Chandra Breneman to fill in while first-grade teacher
Jennifer Irish is on maternity leave.

- - Approved Allen Bough as a volunteer assistant girls basketball coach.

- - Accepted Perry Ausman's resignation as part-time custodian. His
last day will be Friday.

- - Approved Neidigh to do interior work on the junior high renovation
project. Their base bid, including three alternates, was $335,297. A
representative from Schmidt Associates, who is overseeing the
project, said local contractors will also be used on this project.

- - Approved Midland Engineering to do the junior high roofing project.
Their base bid was $880,000. The board also voted to request quotes
for re-painting the galvanized equipment on the junior high roof.
Since it's galvanized metal, the equipment will need to be scraped,
primed and re-painted. Since the cost of re-painting the equipment
will be under $25,000, corporation attorney John Rowe said quotes can
be accepted instead of bidding the project.

- - Approved the school's bus replacement plan.

- - Approved the capital project plan.

- - Approved the 2006 budget.

- - Adopted a resolution which will give Bush flexibility when taking
the budget to the Department of Local Government and Finance. Bush
said the resolution will allow him to make adjustments on the proper
lines of the budget.

- - Adopted a resolution to make retirement bonds revenue neutral.

The next regular session meeting of the Linton-Stockton School Board
will be at 7 p.m. on Oct. 17 in the education center.