ABOE WORKING TO PUT NEW DRUG POLICY IN PLACE

The Albertville City School System is working to implement a new substance
abuse policy with ties into parking privileges at Albertville High School.

The policy was passed by the board of education in January. Since then,
Superintendent of Education, Dr. Robert Sparkman, said the school system is
working with the court referral program in Guntersville to handle the
testing.

"We also have MROs in place to do a third review in case the results of a
test are positive. We want to be sure it's accurate," said Sparkman.

Forms informing parents of the implementation process and the policy were
expected to be sent home Thursday, but if not, they will be sent Monday,
Sparkman said.

The policy requires that students, who are able to receive parking
privileges on campus, to sign a waiver stating that it is alright for them
to be tested randomly for substance abuse. The purpose of the random drug
testing is to keep the drugs out of the school and away from the
extra-curricular activities on campus.

If a student tests positive for drugs, the parents and students are called
in for a conference. The student at that point will lose his/her parking
privileges for a semester, if the principal feels that it is true.

According to the policy, if the student comes to school under the influence
or the problem doesn't seem to be changing, the student can lose his/her
parking privileges indefinitely and can face being suspended or expelled.

The board is reviewing changes to two other policies and some of those
changes may be implemented immediately.

Sparkman presented members of the board with suggested changes to the dress
code and the code of conduct for their review during a work session Thursday
night.

"I asked our administrators to help us revise them in a way that would help
them maintain good discipline in the schools. With the dress code, they want
to apply some of the changes immediately if they meet with the board's
approval. Warm weather is coming, and the changes apply to that. The rest we
can review and change some time during the summer if that's what the board
wants to do," said Sparkman.

Before the close of the work session, Sparkman informed the board of a grant
received by Alabama Avenue Middle School to be a NASA Exploration School.
The program funds professional development training for math and science
teachers and additional technology for their classrooms. The grant is for
$17,500 over three years. Alabama Avenue was one of 50 schools in the nation
to receive the honor.

Rhonda Barber was also named Community Education Coordinator of the Year by
the Alabama Community Education Association.

Community Education in Albertville City Schools has been virtually
non-existent for the past five or six years due to funding cuts. The Board
of Education renewed the program in August after a 21st Century grant,
authored by Barber, was awarded. Since that time, after school enrichment
classes for children, adult education classes, and many new opportunities
for parents and families have been offered through the Community Learning
Center. Senior citizens have also participated in "Lunch and Learn' programs
to generate interest in the schools and in community education offerings.

In addition to supervising the programs for adults and children, Barber has
acted as a liaison to the Albertville City Schools Foundation which has
raised more than $100,000 since August. She has served as an active member
of the Marshall County Children's Policy Council, the Marshall County
Christmas Coalition Board, the Albertville Lady Civitans, Federal Programs
Advisory Committee and Christ Episcopal Church.