Some Area Middle School Students Will Face A New Test This Year: Random Drug Testing. At its regular board meeting Thursday night, the Willard Board of Education received an update on a program that is beginning this year. Most parents are signing the form that allows their child to be part of the testing pool, said drug-testing coordinator Dennis Twitchel. Twitchel, a former assistant principal at the middle school, said the district wanted to take the testing program to middle school after implementing the program successfully last year at the high school. [continues 305 words]
The Aurora Board of Education is considering implementing random drug testing for junior high and high school students involved in extracurricular activities. Some residents who turned out to an information session Tuesday night on the plan wondered why faculty won't be subjected to the tests as well. Superintendent Dale Slagle told the crowd of about 50 that when the district looked into the matter several years ago, legal advisors said they probably couldn't make teachers submit. The law allows for students to be tested only if they wish to participate in extracurricular activities, and that is different from a teacher who is trying to earn a livelihood, he said. [continues 397 words]
Area Schools Use Red Ribbon Week As A Way To Focus On Preventing Drug, Alcohol Use Whether they were using red balloons or fake blood, last week many schools asked students to focus on the consequences of drinking and using drugs. At Willard South Elementary, the whole school gathered on the playground to declare, "This is me, drug-free!" and released about 400 red balloons. First-grader Michaela Gugel was giddy with excitement as she watched the balloons soar into the sky. [continues 649 words]
In a 2002 survey of public-school freshman and juniors in Columbia, a third of those surveyed admitted to drinking alcohol at least once in the past 30 days and 15 percent admitted using marijuana. Not all will get caught and have to face the legal system, but if they do, Columbia school resource officers and school counselors want to let parents know what their kids will face. Tonight at 7 p.m. in the Hickman media center, two officers will present "Just the Facts, Jack," the first of a series of educational seminars for parents. The seminars are sponsored by a group called Bridges. [continues 300 words]
A convicted drug-dealer's fortune in mutual funds is paying off for the Internal Revenue Service and the Boone County Sheriff's Department. On Thursday, an agent from the IRS Criminal Investigations is scheduled to give sheriff's Capt. Beverly Braun a check for $110,261.58, a little more than half the proceeds forfeited by Gary Banks of Columbia. During the 1990s, a local bank tipped off law enforcement about large deposits Banks was making into various investment accounts. The law requires banks to report transactions of $10,000 or more, though Banks often deposited smaller amounts in an attempt to avoid the reporting requirement, the IRS said in a prepared statement. [continues 177 words]
Parent Says Problem Ignored At Rock Bridge High School. The Columbia Board of Education tried to close a loophole in its anti-drug rules last night, but one Columbia parent alleged students and administrators don't take the board policies seriously. "Are you aware of specific incidents where students have drugs on campus, and the faculty and administrators know about this, and they ignore it?" superintendent Jim Ritter asked Debbie Gaines, a parent of a Rock Bridge High School student. "Yes," Gaines said. [continues 502 words]
Show up to school drunk, and sure, a kid would get punished. But what if a teacher sees a student sip beer across the street before coming onto campus? If the Columbia Board of Education adopts a proposed new policy on student alcohol and drug abuse tomorrow night, students would violate policy if they try to come to school or school events "soon after consuming" alcoholic beverages or controlled substances. Lea Evans, the parent chair of an anti-drug-and-alcohol organization at Jefferson Junior High School thinks the proposed policy would be a good idea. [continues 315 words]
