Pubdate: Mon, 13 Nov 2006
Source: Nevada Appeal (Carson City, NV)
Copyright: 2006 Nevada Appeal
Contact:  http://www.nevadaappeal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/896
Author: Marlene Garcia

TRUSTEES COULD ADOPT DRUG TESTING POLICY ON TUESDAY

The Churchill County School District Board of Trustees  meets Tuesday 
instead of its regular Thursday meeting  schedule.

The board could act on a proposed drug and alcohol  testing policy 
that would apply to all employees in the  district. The topic is on 
the agenda as an action item.

A committee that has been studying the proposal is  meeting today at 
5:30 p.m. to continue discussing  whether "reasonable suspicion" 
should be a criteria  before drug testing when a worker's 
compensation claim  is filed.

Some committee members had asked for a legal opinion on  the issue 
before making recommendations to the school  board on the policy.

The draft policy requires drug and alcohol testing when  an employee 
files a worker's compensation claim, after  an accident causing more 
than $1,000 in damage and when  there is reasonable suspicion that an 
employee is using  drugs or alcohol at work.

"When a supervisor trained in detecting the indicators  of 
alcohol/substance abuse has reasonable suspicion to  believe an 
employee has violated a condition of this  policy they will contact 
another trained supervisor to  substantiate their suspicion. Two 
trained supervisors  must observe behavior supporting reasonable 
suspicion  to proceed to the Alcohol and Drug Program Manager," an 
addition to the proposed policy states.

A training session has been set for Dec. 7 for  supervisors to learn 
what constitutes reasonable  suspicion and how to spot signs of drug 
or alcohol use.  The draft policy indicates it will go into effect Jan.  1.

The district contends a high number of worker's  compensation claims 
and increased cost for insurance  prompted the need for a drug and 
alcohol testing  policy.

Also on Tuesday's agenda is a recommendation to hire a  new 
maintenance manager for the school district.

The position has been open since July when former  maintenance 
manager Chuck Hewitt resigned after eight  months on the job. Hewitt 
said he left the district  because he disagreed with the way the 
district handled  the potential danger from leaking fluorescent 
light  fixtures containing hazardous chemicals.

Finance director Jim Sustacha will report to the board  on the 
2005-06 audit and the financial impact of a new  formula for per 
pupil allocations from the state.

An update is also planned on a request for bond money  to fix schools.

No details on any of the agenda items were posted on  the school 
district Web site as of Thursday afternoon.

The board meets at 7 p.m. in the district  administration building, 
545 E. Richards St.
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MAP posted-by: Elaine