Pubdate: Wed, 21 Feb 2007
Source: Herald Journal (IN)
Copyright: 2007 Herland Journal
Contact: http://www.thehj.com/Formlayout.asp?formcall=userform&form=3
Website: http://www.thehj.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4410
Author: Abby Lietz
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Test)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

TL DRUG TESTING POLICY PROMPTS PUBLIC MEETING

Members of the Twin Lakes community are being  encouraged to attend a 
public meeting Monday at the  high school addressing a random student 
drug testing  policy under consideration by the school corporation's 
board of trustees.

The forum will take place at 7 p.m. at the Twin Lakes  High School 
Auditorium, allowing the corporation to  share the draft of the 
policy with the public and also  provide the public the opportunity 
to ask questions and  offer suggestions on the policy, which received 
its first of two readings at the school board's Tuesday  evening meeting.

Roughly one month ago, school board members and Twin  Lakes staff met 
with a handful of community leaders to  gather input on the policy, 
which got its start in the  board's policy and student affairs committees.

Present at that meeting were Monticello Chief of Police  Jim 
Reynolds, White County Sheriff John Roberts, White  County Prosecutor 
Bob Guy and various others  representing groups such as the county's 
probation department and division of children and family  services.

But board president Mark Mills said the purpose of a  meeting with 
and before the public is to gain an  understanding of the attitudes 
and desires of those who  will most directly be affected by the 
policy before it  moves any further.

"We need feedback from them, the pros and cons. We do  want to move 
forward on this but not without public  opinion," said Mills Tuesday.

Twin Lakes Superintendent Dr. Tom Fletcher said a key  he's looking 
for is essentially the bottom line: the  need for the policy.

"We needed to show where the problem is, why we need  the program," 
said Fletcher, who added, "We think,  actually I know, this makes 
sense. But we need to get  feedback from the community, see how they 
feel about  this."

Changes can still be made to the policy before it goes  for a second 
reading, scheduled for the board's March  13 meeting.

In building matters, the board voted 5-2 to accept a  bid of $371,500 
from CPM Construction out of  Indianapolis for the 
renovation-addition project on the  corporation's administration building.

The bid was the low of two in a second round of  bidding, which 
followed a first round that featured six  submissions all 
significantly higher than the project's  estimated budget of 
$350,000. CPM beat out Wheatfield's  The Hamstra Group, whose bid was $394,000.

Architect Rick Schwarz of Lafayette-based Schwarz  Associates noted 
during the meeting Tuesday the work of  the board to do its part in 
reducing the bid price to a  more manageable level. He explained a 
list of 30 items  was examined for possible alteration to drive down 
the  cost. The board was able to do so, said Schwarz, "and  still 
have the integrity of the project and make it  work."

Twenty-two items were changed in the rebid, and many  were 
differences in lighting, door knobs and other  minor fixtures, Schwarz shared.

According to Fletcher, the official application for  building permits 
will quickly follow last night's  approval and the anticipated start 
date for  construction is mid-March. The project, which will add  a 
large meeting room, more office and storage space and  a 
handicap-equipped lift, is expected to be finished  sometime in August.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman