Pubdate: Sat, 13 Jan 2007
Source: World, The (Coos Bay, OR)
Copyright: 2007 Southwestern Oregon Publishing Company
Contact:  http://www.theworldlink.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1229
Author: Alexander Rich, Staff Writer

CB SCHOOL BOARD UPDATES DRUG TESTING POLICY

COOS BAY - The Coos Bay School Board has taken a first  step toward 
instituting an updated drug policy for new  employees.

At the December board meeting, Superintendent Dr. Karen  Fischer Gray 
reported the district's medical screening  process had lapsed under 
her watch. This week, she  recommended a revised policy, doing away 
with medical  examinations and focusing, instead, on pre-employment drug tests.

"I don't feel that it is necessary to ask people  to go through 
physical examinations before hiring  them," she said. "I would like 
to see all  employees, licensed and non-licensed, to be drug  tested, 
previous to being able to begin their jobs."

Gray explained that part of the reason she thought the  district 
should eliminate the medical examination is  because most school 
employees do not perform overly  physical activities.

"In general, we don't have jobs that require that  level of testing," 
she said. "We are not that kind  of business, in my opinion."

In addition to drug tests, the school would continue to  perform 
criminal background studies of all potential  employees.

There was little debate among the board members at  Monday's meeting, 
with discussion limited mainly to  whether the drug tests should be 
administered before or  after applicants receive job offers.

Tom Bennett said he would prefer the district test  applicants before 
they are offered a post.

"I think it tends to send a slightly different  message that the 
sample could happen at any time, most  likely if you get down to the 
select few," he said.

Bennett also suggested there would be logistical  difficulties for 
testing new hires from outside the  area if the tests took place 
after receiving an offer.

Gray considered such a concern to be minor.

"I'm not worried about people far away. They have  drug labs in 
Vermont and we can always contact the lab  to make sure the test was 
done appropriately," she  said. "And most of our people are from 
right here  in Oregon anyway."

Donna Opitz and David Ford both recommended waiting  until after a 
candidate is selected, suggesting the  school might unnecessarily 
waste funds on drug tests if  all applicants were tested.

Chairman Don Blom offered a middle ground.

"I think the test could be concurrent," he said.  "We can say, 'We 
will offer you this job,  pending the drug test.'"

No matter when the test occurs, everyone on the board  agreed that 
something needs to be on the school policy  ledger. The existing 
policy was put into effect in  1993, though its application has been 
spotty in recent  years. Gray said it would be one of her priorities 
to  see it put into use.

"Our policies have got to mirror our practices,"  she said. "I want 
people to start work sober."

A blanket drug policy is somewhat of a rarity on the  South Coast. 
North Bend, Brookings-Harbor, Myrtle Point  and Siuslaw are the only 
school districts with drug  testing for all new employees. Other 
districts test  only bus driver personnel.

In other news at the Monday Coos Bay School Board meeting:

- - Maintenance Supervisor Joel Smallwood said the school  had received 
word from the Federal Aviation  Administration that a new radio tower 
for KMHS would  not need a hazard light or red-and-white painting to 
alert passing aircraft. The school will save money on  repair and 
general upkeep costs as a result. Smallwood  estimated a new tower 
will be in place by mid-summer at  the earliest.
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MAP posted-by: Elaine