Pubdate: Thu, 16 Mar 2006 Source: Naples Daily News (FL) Copyright: 2006 Naples Daily News. Contact: http://www.naplesnews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/284 Note: Publisher prints several newspapers - please indicate which newspaper in LTEs. Author: Katherine Lewis Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Test) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth) SUN, SHADE AND DRUG TESTING AWAIT SCHOOL BOARD VOTES The giant, kite-like shades that keep the sun off of Collier County schools' playgrounds could become a thing of the past if the School Board finds them too costly to repair. Board members will consider a proposal by the district no to replace the sun shades damaged in Hurricane Wilma and will phase out the sun shades that were not damaged as they become worn. The School Board tabled the repair bill Feb. 16, asking the district to consider other options for the sun shades to help keep Collier County youth out of the sun. District officials said the sun shades would cost more than $421,000 to replace at 23 schools. The cost of a new sun shade structure is $90,000. Since 2001, the district has installed sun shades over sand play court areas that children use typically for 10 to 15 minutes a day during recess. Sea Gate Elementary parents successfully lobbied the board for $2 million worth of shades as a prevention against skin cancer. The large shades block 95 percent of the sun's ultraviolet rays yet allow air to flow. Board members also asked staff to consider the possibility to use shade trees in place of the sun shades. Alvah Hardy, executive director of facilities management at the district, told Board members in a memo that would not be possible. "Staff research concludes that shade trees are not a practical reason for a variety of reasons, including ineffectiveness shading the area during lunch time when the sun is directly overhead," he wrote. Hardy also wrote that the district spent more than $800,000 replacing trees following Hurricane Wilma. The recommendation also includes two other alternatives. One asks the board to consider repairing and reinstalling all sun shades damaged with a caveat that, once taken down due to the threat of a hurricane, they will not be reinstalled until after the hurricane season. The second is that the district will replaces the damaged sun shades with a metal roof structure, which would cost between $350,000 and $375,000. The metal roof structure would also be used on the playgrounds of the new schools. Other matters board members may take up today: - -- Students could be closer to a drug test if the School Board approves a random drug testing policy today for student athletes. Students and their parents will have to agree to the policy if the student wants to participate in an athletic activity, including cheerleading, according to the policy. If a student tests positive for drugs or alcohol, he or she will be required to complete a three-hour state licensed and accredited drug/alcohol counseling or rehabilitation program. - -- The School Board will vote to make Dr. Nancy Graham the principal at Naples High School effective July 1. Current Naples High School Principal Rosanne Winter announced her resignation last year. She will join her husband, Bill, in Las Vegas where he has accepted a position with the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation, a philanthropic organization that funds national initiatives in the areas of cardiovascular research, aging and journalism. Graham, who is currently the principal at Coral Gables High School, was named Lee County Principal of the Year in 2003. - -- Before the 2 p.m. School Board meeting, the Board will get an idea of how much money it will have next year. Robert Spencer, the district's executive director of financial services, will review the district's general fund balance and carryover, estimates of new revenue and new costs, and an overview of Gov. Jeb Bush's proposed 2006-07 budget during the Board's second budget workshop. Bush has proposed a $33 billion state education budget that includes more money for public schools, the voluntary pre-kindergarten program, reading initiatives and class size amendment requirements. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman