Sean C. Morgan
Sweet Home Schools Supt. Keith Winslow said he will begin working on a new policy and administrative rule to implement random drug testing for those participating in competitive extra-curricular activities Monday during the District 55 School Board’s regular meeting.
He submitted the Oregon School Boards Association’s recommended policy and administrative rule to the board Monday night after previously conferring with Spencer Lewis, board development and policy services specialist for the OSBA.
In an email to Winslow, Spencer outlined three things he and the district would need to think about.
First, the district should identify the need for random drug testing. It could help the district if the policy is challenged. Winslow told the board he planned to survey the students and possibly teachers.
Second, Spencer told Winslow that the district should let the community know and get input.
“In many cases, the community is in full support though there are still some that question the constitutionality of suspicionless drug tests,” Spencer said. The district should make sure the community is made aware of the plan, with ample time to voice concerns.
Third, procedures should be in place and clear, Spencer said. If people know exactly what to expect, and those procedures are followed, there should be less confusion and fewer complaints.
In the sample OSBA policy and administrative rule, Winslow said, he is concerned about one detail. The policy describes sending samples to labs for testing.
He doesn’t think that’s necessary, he said. Other districts in the Sky-Em League use tests in house.
Winslow said he will submit a survey to students, probably with five or six questions to find out “whether they see this as a need. My guess is we’ll get an overwhelming yes.”
Random drug testing can help improve athlete safety, undermine peer pressure by giving a student an excuse to say no and encourage participation in treatment programs, he said.
Board member Carol Babcock said she was concerned that refusal to provide a sample for testing would automatically mean the student is considered to have tested positive.
She said that a student might refuse for reasons other than to hide using drugs, and it would be unfortunate for them not to be able to participate.
Following the survey and modifications to the basic OSBA examples, he would return to the board.
Under the OSBA samples, students may be tested at the beginning of an athletic season or extracurricular activity in which they participate. Selection for testing would be random among all participating students.
The names would remain confidential. No student can be penalized academically for testing positive, and the test results would not be documented in any students education records. Information would not be disclosed to criminal or juvenile authorities without a subpoena or other legal process, which the district would not solicit.
Present at the meeting were board members Angela Clegg, Jenny Daniels, Jason Redick, Nick Augsburger, Babcock, Debra Brown and Chairman Mike Reynolds. Chanz Keeney and Jason Van Eck were absent.
In other business, Winslow presented an application and process to the board for selecting a new superintendent. Winslow will retire at the end of this school year.
Winslow and the board set a meeting of a superintendent search committee for 5:30 p.m. on Nov. 17 to develop questions and a process for reviewing applicants.
Applications are due on Jan. 8, Winslow said.
The search committee includes the board members; staff members Winslow; Julie Emmert, administrative secretary; Larry Horton, retired superintendent; Ralph Brown, Sweet Home High School principal; Todd Barrett, Holley School principal; Luke Augsburger, Foster School principal; Colleen Henry, Sweet Home Junior High principal; Kevin Strong, business manager; Josh Darwood, maintenance director; Cheryl Hicks, transportation director; Lisa Canaday, a junior high math teacher and president of the teachers union; and Velma Canfield, a librarian at Foster School and president of the classified association.
Community members include Abby Hagle, Heather Search and Martha Wells.