Board Discusses Drug Testing Results
Results of student drug testing were talked about during March 9’s meeting of the McDonald County School District Board of Education.
“We’ve had real good results,” Athletic Director Nick Martin told the board. “We’re testing a lot of kids over and over. A lot of kids have been tested six times.”
He said he would like to see the district expand testing to include students in Missouri State High School Athletic Association activities, such as cheer, band and debate, to provide a broader pool to test. Currently only student
athletes are being tested.
Board member Kim Harrel said he would like to look for a legal way to drug test anyone who represents the school district, whether in ROTC, FFA or other programs.
Al Willis of Controlled Technology Solutions, the builder for the new bus barn, presented the board with a change order for the fuel island. The fuel island originally included one diesel pump and one gasoline pump, but it was decided that it would be best to have an additional diesel pump. The cost for the change order was $5,050. The board approved the change.
High school principal Greg Leach presented a new vocational career class will begin at the high school. Students will be trained at the high school and then sent out to job sites with hopes that they will receive preferential treatment for jobs. They will learn technical skills, such as welding. Ag teacher Rob Hall will teach the class and monitor students on the job site. The board approved the new class.
High school art teacher Charlene Bergen presented Samantha Gundel, who earned the art program’s first State Senate award winner.
“The art program has really pushed me to do things I never would have imagined doing,” Gundel said. “It’s given me patience and given me something to be proud of.”
In other business the school board:
Approved adding a junior high school softball team.
Approved purchasing four buses at $80,964 each.
Adopted a hazard mitigation plan.
Approved seeking bids for a 10-passenger vehicle.