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Bronaugh School Board institutes drug testing
Starting in January, 2017, all students in Bronaugh's middle and high schools wanting to participate in extra-curricular activities must sign a form -- along with their parents -- giving consent to participate in a program of random drug testing to be conducted by the district.
During its November meeting the Bronaugh R-7 school board decided that, on a quarterly basis, five high school students and three middle school students would be required to provide a urine sample.
The dates and students to be chosen, as well as the testing of all samples, will be performed by Tomo Drug Testing, a company based in Springfield, with offices in five other towns around the state.
"It's not that we think we have a serious drug problem, quite to the contrary," said Dr. David Copeland, district superintendent. "It's not so much we're trying to catch kids but instead, we're trying to help kids say 'No, I'm not going to do that because I'm playing a sport,' or 'I'm in band.'"
The board discussed whether to require testing of all students and decided to make testing a part of participation in any extra-curricular activity with the superintendent to investigate the legality and requirements for the district reserving the right to test any student suspected of drug use.
A thorough policy on drug testing was reviewed and adopted unanimously by the board.
Cost to the district will be just over $1,000 per school year.
Drugs detected by the 12-panel test include: cocaine; marijuana; angel dust (PCP); amphetamines (including methamphetamines); basic opiates including heroin, morphine and codeine; benzodiazapenes (including Valium and Xanax); barbiturates (including Seconal and Phenobarbital); Methadone; Darvon; Quaaludes; Ecstasy; and other opiates such as OxyContin, Percocet, Dilaudid, Demerol, Fentanyl and Hydrocodone.
Coaches rolled out the new policy and procedures when students and parents met with coaches on Meet the Wildcats Night, Nov. 17.
Also under new business, Copeland raised a concern about the school's restrooms.
"Maybe I'm too concerned by appearance but one thing which I think would really help the image of this school, particularly as the public attends basketball games would be to do some work on our bathrooms," said Copeland. "I mean, it's hard to clean something that's just nasty, and I'm talking about both the boys and girls restrooms."
The board discussed possible options for each after which board member David Diggins said he would prepare alternatives and obtain quotes to be presented during December's board meeting.
On Nov. 7, the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education released the Annual Performance Report scores for each district in the state. Principal Jordan Dickey provided the scores and then pointed to the three-year trend and the primary area requiring attention.
"The formula they use has 14 factors and out of a top score of 138 points, Bronaugh earned 127 points or a 92 percentage," said Dickey. "That's one-tenth of one percent from being at the top of our conference of schools."
Even more encouraging was the three-year trend. In 2014, the district received a score of 86.8 percent while in 2015 it was 90.9 and as of last spring, 92 percent.
"Think of what that means," said Dickey as she looked around the table. "Despite the turmoil of a couple years ago in this district and the changeover as we move from No Child Left Behind to the Missouri Learning Standards, our students are improving."
Dickey added, "That's a real tribute to the teachers and staff of this district. You might think I brag on them a bit much but these scores say we have every right to be proud of them."
Highlighting the areas most needing attention, the principal pointed to science and attendance. The board has already been made aware of a handful of students whose truancy was quite significant in the first quarter alone and continues to be, significantly pulling down the average for the high school.
"As far as DESE is concerned, excused or unexcused absences are treated the same because either way, the student is not in school learning," added Dickey.
To impress upon students the importance of attendance, Dickey said she is tying most student privileges to attendance.
"If you want to participate in athletics or go to the prom or on the senior trip, a student must have an attendance rate -- excused or unexcused -- of 90 percent or better," said Dickey.
"The reason this school exists is for the education of our children and we can't do that if they're not in class," said Dickey.
Sixth-grade teacher Lindsey Lechman provided a brief presentation on behalf of the County Teacher Association.
"National Education Week is Nov. 14-18 and we thought, instead of just giving each teacher a gift card and a word of thanks, we thought we'd help the students recognize the teachers as whole people," said Lechman.
The sixth-grade teacher added, "Some will decorate their room's door and others will put together a basket with pictures and objects which represent important people, interests and things in their lives. When students see teachers as whole people they may see themselves as teachers."
Lechman also shared teacher enthusiasm for Opaa, the firm that -- a month ago -- took over managing food service in the R-7 schools.
"We appreciate the teacher specials and the breakfast bar," said Lechman. "And last week, for the first time in as long as I can remember, I had a student come from lunch and say, 'I'm full.' Kid's used to complain about being hungry in the afternoon but not anymore."
The superintendent reported on greater efficiency and cost savings of between $9,000 and $11,000 for the district by consolidating from three bus routes to two and by switching from Durham to Apple Bus Company.
Continuation of the co-op football arrangement with Liberal was approved, as were the dates of Dec. 13 to Jan. 17 as the period of filing for the open seats on the school board.
Three board seats will be available and, with the election of Brent Banes on Nov. 8 to the position of Vernon County Collector/Treasurer, there will be at least one open seat.
The other incumbents, Corey Yount and Saundra Bogart have yet to express whether they will file.
Copeland received board approval to digitize the records of high school graduates.
"Every year we get requests from our graduates for a copy of transcripts to be sent which means we literally have to go into the storage area, find the record, copy, mail and put the original back," said Copeland.
The superintendent told the board digitizing would make the finding, sending and storing so much easier. He proposed keeping a copy on compact disk at the school with a second CD at the school's safety deposit box while a third copy of the transcripts would be on the Internet.