Pubdate: Tue, 20 Sep 2005
Source: Linton Daily Citizen (IN)
Copyright: 2005 Linton Daily Citizen.
Contact:  http://www.dailycitizen.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3277
Author: Halea Franklin, staff writer
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Test)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

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.
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MAP posted-by: Elizabeth Wehrman