Random drug testing for students involved in athletics
and other extra-curricular activities was discussed during the regular
meeting of the Holden R-3 Board of Education last Monday night.
Although the board was not asked to make a decision in regards to a
policy for the testing, R-3 Activities Director Kelli Spies said she
feels student drug activity is a valid concern, and drug testing is
one way she feels the district could take a proactive approach to deal
with the problem. “I have noticed an increase in usage of marijuana,
mostly,” Spies explained. “I think drug testing is something
we definitely need to take a look at.”
As part of her presentation, Spies pointed out several area school districts
who already have random drug testing policies in place, such as Grain
Valley, Warrensburg and Oak Grove. All three of the fore mentioned schools
have policies in place for extra-curricular activities that allow for
random drug testing for students who have been found to violate school
controlled substance policies. “They have had a lot of community
support,” Spies said of Warrensburg, who adopted the policy in
recent years.
“We would want to look at this as an intervention,” Spies
said. “We would want to use this to deter students from usage...
This would not be a witch hunt.”
In a magazine article entitled “Drug Testing in the 21 Century,”
submitted by Spies to the board for review, results of a 2001 Sport
Safe study showed continued reason for alarm regarding substance abuse
by students. The study found 56 percent of high school seniors had used
illicit drugs at some time, and 30 percent of those same seniors had
participated in binge drinking in the prior two weeks. That same study
showed 49 percent of high school sophomores surveyed had participated
in illicit drug use, and of those same sophomores, 25 percent had been
involved in binge drinking. The study, which surveyed students as young
as eighth grade, showed consistent drug and alcohol use across the board,
increasing in the amount of students involved as the student’s
ages increased.
Spies said the downside to random drug testing is the expense and an
expected decrease in student participation in extra-curricular activities.
A possible solution to this problem, according to Spies, would be drug
testing at the student’s expense.
According to Spies, area schools who already have the policy in place
take a varied approach for disciplining students found in violation
of substance abuse policies. For example, students at Grain Valley High
School who are caught using drugs are automatically suspended from all
extra-curricular activities for 45 days and must agree to undergo 10
hours of drug counseling, complete and pass a drug screening prior to
re-instatement in activities, agree to random drug testing throughout
the remainder of their participation in activities and agree to be responsible
for all expenses incurred by the district as a result of the counseling
and drug testing.
However, Warrensburg High School takes a “percentage” approach
to their controlled substance abuse policy. In that district, any student
found using “mood altering chemicals” loses eligibility
for a minimum of 40 percent of the competitive season for whatever sport
they play. The student must then undergo 10 hours of drug/alcohol counseling
and complete and pass an alcohol/drug screening test before they will
be allowed to participate in school-sponsored activities again. Warrensburg,
too requires the student to take responsibility for all expenses incurred
as a result of the drug testing and counseling.
Holden R-3 Superintendent Dr. Lindell Harrison told the board although
they were not presented with a request for a policy change during Monday
night’s meeting, the possibility of a request for a drug testing
policy in the future is a very real possibility as Spies and other personnel
and coaches with the district learn more about drug testing in schools.
Although the Holden R-3 School District currently has a very strict
substance abuse policy in place, random drug testing is not used to
assist in exercising that policy.
By Christi Stowe
News Editor
Salary
increases for certified, non-certified and support staff was discussed
during the regular meeting of the Holden R-3 Board of Education last
Monday night.
An across-the-board salary increase for teachers was first discussed
during the board’s regular meeting in April, when a $1,000 increase
was added to the district’s base teacher salary. At that time,
a number of district teachers attended the meeting and commented that
they felt a greater increase would be necessary in order to keep qualified
staff from leaving the district and seeking higher salaries elsewhere.
The board told the teachers at that time they did not feel comfortable
agreeing to a greater increase unless more money was received from
state funding, but the board did agree to re-visit the issue this
month.
District Superintendent Dr. Lindell Harrison told the board his opinion
had not changed since April’s meeting. “I am still uncomfortable
about recommending anything further,” he said, adding that additional
state funding has not become available at this time. Harrison continued
by saying that new formulas for calculating school funding by the
state are being discussed in the legislature that could possibly hurt
the district in the coming years if passed. “Until these issues
get settled, I just don’t feel comfortable about where you would
be headed after next year.”
District teacher Mary Burgess questioned the board about ways to fund
teacher salary increases, stating that as a taxpayer in another school
district she would not be willing to approve a tax levy increase for
the sole purpose of funding salary increases. Burgess said she would,
however be willing to approve a tax levy increase if her district
approached the matter from the angle of needing to decrease class
sizes and other educational reasons.
“We have to be up front and honest with the taxpayers. There
are several things the board is going to have to address in the near
future,” board president Jeff Miller told Burgess, adding that
the board does have concerns about class sizes and building needs
in addition to teacher salaries. “We have to show a need, and
put together a package for the patrons, being up front and honest.
That approach worked well for us in the new building project.”
District teacher Terri Sisk questioned the board about the possibility
of a tax levy increase in the future to help fund salary increases.
“How do you get across to the patrons that they are going to
lose good teachers,?” she asked. Sisk continued by saying that
she feels the district has money in its budget without a levy increase,
adding that because she lives in the district, she would be voting
to give herself a raise and then using proceeds from the raise to
pay for the tax increase out of her own pocket. “I think the
money is there without me having to vote for a tax increase to give
myself a raise,” Sisk added.
Harrison said although the district currently has a reserve of funds
to be used for capital improvements in the district, by using that
reserve and deficit spending to fund teacher salary increases, the
district could only, in his opinion, successfully fund the salary
increases for about two years.
Board member Pat Zvacek expressed concerns in regards to deficit spending
to increase the salaries. “The first board meeting I ever attended,
we didn’t have money to pay the bills. We had to borrow money
to pay salaries. I can remember times when the auditor would come
and say, ‘two months and you’ll be broke.’ It is
a panic feeling sitting on this side of the table and having to go
to the bank and borrow money,” Zvacek said. “We value
our teachers. We have tried very hard to give the teachers what they’ve
wanted, but I feel like if we asked the taxpayers for money for raises,
we wouldn’t get it. People are struggling. They would be thinking,
‘I got a $200 raise this year, and they got $1,000.’ We’re
between a rock and a hard place right now.”
Board member Mike Watterson welcomed the teachers to share their ideas
with the board, if they are able to come up with ways to fund an additional
salary increase.
In related business, the board unanimously approved modest salary
increases for the district’s support staff, which includes custodians,
bus drivers, cooks, Day Plus program staff, secretaries, library clerks
and instructional aides.
By Christi Stowe
News Editor
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The Holden R-3 Board of Education accepted the resignations
of three staff members and approved the hire and re-hire of a number
of coaching and support positions for the district during executive
session of the board’s regular meeting last Monday night.
Resignations accepted were high school special education teacher Chris
Jacoby, elementary and intermediate art teacher Robin Campbell and high
school physical education teacher, head wrestling and assistant football
coach David Gilstrap.
In addition, the board approved the hire of Rich Johnson to teach high
school boy’s physical education and serve as head high school
football coach. The board also hired Ben Kiger to teach high school
special education, John Jones to teach high school math and social studies,
as well as serve as assistant wrestling and football coach and Ginger
Jones to teach at the high school level.
The board also approved the re-hire of all district support staff for
the 2005-2006 school year.
In other business, the board heard a program evaluation for the district’s
activities department from activities director Kelli Spies. Spies said
although the opportunity to participate in extra-curricular activities
is offered to all students, the percentage of girls in the district
who participate in activities, mainly sports, is rather low.
At the high school level, 43 percent of boys participated in the school’s
athletic program this year, while only 26 percent of girls participated.
Spies said she has spoken to coaches in other districts who have noted
the same trend. “That’s something we’ll be working
on,” she said. In addition, Spies noted that the district has
a very large FFA, Choir and Band program that a number of students participate
in.
In other reports, auxiliary services director presented the health services
program evaluation to the board. Arnone and board president Jeff Miller
noted there are a number of special needs students in the district who
receive specialized care from the school nurse and health clerk.
The board also heard the alternative instruction program evaluation
from intermediate school principal Donna Fizer. Fizer noted that in
addition to the district’s gifted program, a number of opportunities
for enrichment are given to the students including college credit classes
and ITV classes.
In other business, the board noted a number of upcoming events including
the Holden PTA academic awards the evening of May 12, Baccalaureate
on May 14, graduation on May 15 and a welcome reception for the district’s
new superintendent Scott Slava on May 25 from 4 p.m. until 5:30 p.m.
in the middle school commons.
The next regular meeting of the Holden R-3 Board of Education will be
June 23 at 7 p.m.
By Christi Stowe
News Editor
Area
high school seniors will graduate in upcoming commencement ceremonies
for Holden and Kingsville.
Holden High School graduation will be held Sunday, May 15 at 2 p.m.
in the newly air-conditioned high school gymnasium. The doors will
open at 1 p.m. There is no reserve seating. In addition, school officials
have suggested guests remember to wear proper attire. They have also
said that no pets will be allowed. The Holden R-3 Administration would
like to make this a special day for all graduates and show respect
for their accomplishments.
The Kingsville R-1 High School graduation ceremony has been scheduled
for 7 p.m. on Saturday, May 14 in the high school gymnasium. Once
again, proper attire is suggested. No pets are allowed, and there
will be no reserve seating. The Kingsville R-1 administration would
like to congratulate all area seniors on their accomplishments and
welcome the community to take part in this special ceremony.
Johnson
County Ambulance District Director Earl Neal announced during the
meeting of the Holden Area Chamber of Commerce last Thursday that
officials with the district have been discussing the construction
of an additional ambulance house in the Pittsville area due to a high
volume of ambulance calls in the area. Neal attended the meeting in
order to provide the chamber with an overview of services the ambulance
district provides in the county.
Neal said officials with the district have been looking at property
in the area of 131 and 50 highways in order to look toward constructing
an ambulance house in the next two or three years. “We have
a lot of accidents in that area,” Neal said.
In other chamber business, Wendy Wood, membership committee chairman
informed the group that the chamber currently has 49 members.
In related business, a change was approved to the chamber’s
membership by-laws to allow a cooperation with the Warrensburg Chamber
of Commerce to allow business owners to join both Holden and Warrensburg’s
chambers for a discounted membership fee.
Dennis Mason updated the chamber in regards to progress at the downtown
city park. Mason said the fountain, which will be a focal point at
the park, is nearing completion, and the deadline for individuals
to purchase pavers is June 15. In other business, Mason announced
a group will form to assist landowners in developing and selling their
land. He said financial advisers and city officials will be invited
to the group’s meetings to teach aspects of the process to interested
persons. The group will meet the first time in June.
In other business, Jenny Sollars announced the 2005 Holden Fall Fiesta
will be held September 29,20 and October 1. In addition, Sollars said
she is looking into hiring economic development expert Kent Burns
to serve as keynote speaker at the chamber’s annual banquet,
which has been tentatively scheduled for November 23.
The next regular meeting of the Holden Area Chamber of Commerce will
be June 2 at 7 a.m. at Harmony House Restaurant.
By Christi Stowe
News Editor
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