Pubdate: Sat, 18 Nov 2006
Source: Charleston Daily Mail (WV)
Copyright: 2006 Charleston Daily Mail
Contact:  http://www.dailymail.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/76
Author: Jessica M. Karmasek

BOARD MOVES FORWARD ON DRUG-TESTING POLICY

A representative from the company that does  drug testing for Kanawha 
County school bus drivers  countered teachers unions' fears by 
providing more  information about the drug tests and how they're  performed.

The school board wants to extend the drug tests to  teachers, 
principals and other personnel.

"We're very careful to protect a person's privacy, both  medically 
and personally. We don't accompany someone  into a restroom or stand 
behind them. That would only  be in extreme cases," said Randy 
Pauley, an employee  with Examination Management Systems Inc.

Pauley contends the drug testing is not as invasive as  teachers 
unions have depicted them.

Bill McGinley, general counsel for West Virginia  Education 
Association, told school board members  earlier in the meeting that 
drug testing would mean  stripping off layers of clothes. He even 
warned against  eating foods with poppy seeds, for fear of the 
ingredient showing up as an opiate drug.

"I think they're presenting a somewhat inaccurate  representation of 
what goes on," Pauley said.

The school board still plans to move forward in  developing a drug 
testing policy. Kanawha Schools  Superintendent Ron Duerring told 
board members Thursday  night he expects to have a rough draft of the 
policy by  February.

School board members unanimously agreed at a meeting  last month to 
develop the drug testing policy.

The decision came soon after Pratt Elementary School  Principal David 
Anderson, 42, was arrested and charged  with cocaine possession.

The principal was arrested outside the Washington Manor  public 
housing complex. Charleston Police found a  plastic bag containing 
0.2 grams of cocaine in his back  pocket.

Also at the meeting, school board members voted 4-0 to  fire two 
employees, J. Kimmons Kessel and Stephen  Carpenter. Kessel was a 
teacher at Tyler Middle School,  George Washington High School and 
various schools in  the county. Carpenter was a bus driver.

Kessel, who was present at Thursday's board meeting,  told school 
board members she felt the decision to  suspend her without pay and 
then terminate her  employment was unfair.

She contends she was suspended and subsequently fired  because of 
miscommunication between her and  supervisors.

Teachers and other school system employees typically  are not fired 
on first offense, said board member Pete  Thaw. Usually repeat 
suspensions force the  superintendent to terminate a teacher's 
employment, he  says.

"No, (firing a teacher is) not usual. You've got to  have a good 
case," Thaw said.

"When the administration decides it's time to get rid  of somebody, 
I'm reluctant to not go along with them."

Board members briefly discussed Point Harmony  Elementary School and 
its designation as next year's  major improvement project.

Facilities director Chuck Wilson told board members  Thursday night 
that he has started to draft a proposal,  asking for funds to expand 
the crowded elementary  school.

But board member Bill Raglin questioned the commitment  to Point 
Harmony. He contends the overcrowding  situation at Flinn Elementary 
is just as bad, if not  worse.

"Before we make that commitment, I think we should look  at their 
situation, too, and maybe consider them,"  Raglin said.

Kanawha Schools Superintendent Ron Duerring agreed the  school's 
situation should be looked into and addressed,  but reminded Raglin 
of the board's commitment

"We already made that verbal commitment. They came to  us in a public 
meeting," he said.

In January, after meeting with community members,  parents and 
teachers, school board members decided to  eliminate some of the 
elementary school's portables,  which teachers complained had mold.

Eliminating the portables forced administrators to  squeeze more 
students and teachers into the  already-crowded school.

Fellow board members Becky Jordon, Jim Crawford and  Thaw agreed 
Point Harmony should remain the major  improvement project for next year.

Also at Thursday's meeting, Beverly Jarrett, Kanawha  schools safety 
director, presented a quarterly safety  report for the months of 
July, August and September.

There were 23 worker's compensation claims during those  three 
months, compared to 36 last fall and 37 the year  before.

Results of the school system's annual safety inspection  also were 
discussed. On the list of items that need to  be addressed were 
several out-of-date fire  extinguishers in schools, carpet 
cleanliness and mulch  on playgrounds.

Five schools were recognized for their cleanliness,  neatness, 
organization and overall safety. They are:  South Charleston High 
School, Dunbar Middle, Alum Creek  Elementary, Bonham Elementary and 
Kenna Elementary.
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MAP posted-by: Elaine