Pubdate: Wed, 15 Nov 2006 Source: Carroll County Comet (IN) Copyright: 2006 Carrollpapers, Inc. Contact: http://www.carrollcountycomet.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4148 Author: Kevin Schnepp Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Testing) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?225 (Students - United States) A NIGHT OF POLICY-MAKING FOR DCSC BOARD Policies were the hot topic at the Monday night Delphi Community School Corporation Board of Trustees meeting. A revised attendance policy for the middle school was adopted as well as changes and additions to the corporation-wide bylaws and policies manual. The new policy manual replaces the existing version. According to Shelly Wills, secretary to superintendent Ralph Walker, a majority of the manual did not change. Board member Mike Shoemaker made the motion to approve the document, with a second by Melinda Rossetter. The new corporation policy manual was unanimously approved. The board worked with Ohiobased Neola during the updating process. Neola helped make policy changes adhere to state and federal laws. Superintendent Walker said the policy manual is a "living document" that can be revised or updated at any board meeting. Pending changes, the mission and vision statements were excluded from the approval process. The corporation's drug and alcohol policy has not changed. The three strikes rule is still in effect. However, one section added was a drug test policy for students. Random drug testing will soon be a tool available to the corporation. As stated in the new drug testing policy section, "the board requires that each student participating in one of the corporation's interscholastic athletic programs, extra-curricular programs, or driving to school, sign an enrollment application agreeing that the student will participate in a random drug-testing program, conducted and paid for by the corporation, during the term in which the student will be participating." Athletic Director Bob Blaydes said the projected implementation date will be the fall of 2007. "There are a lot of things to take care of before it's actually put into action," Blaydes commented. "The next step in the process is for the board to find agencies to collect and analyze test results." Blaydes chaired the committee responsible for piecing together the new policy. He stated the process has taken more than a year to get to the approval stage. Within that timeframe, the policy was put before the school board twice, but tabled both times after discussion. Similar policies are in place in other area schools. Blaydes stated the Northwestern school drug testing policy was very helpful in the design of the DCSC policy, as it had already stood the test of litigation. According to Blaydes, cost will be the main factor in determining how many students will be tested over the course of an academic year. Although it has not yet been officially determined, Blaydes said he believes tests will be administered to approximately 15 to 20 randomly selected middle and high school students every two to three weeks. The days of testing will be random as well. He also stated the agency selected by the board to collect samples will choose at random those who will be tested. Blaydes hopes the policy will discourage students from using illegal or harmful substances. He said he realizes there is a chance that some students will simply drop their levels of involvement, but thinks overall the number of students who do so will be minimal. Principal reports High school principal Barry Stone announced the possibility of developing a television station in addition to block scheduling as part of enhanced programming. Hillcrest principal Bill Schidler said over 95 percent of parent/teacher conferences were completed in October. He encouraged parents to contact teachers to set up a conference if they have not yet done so. Students collected 1,500 items for the Carroll County Food Pantry - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom