The Plainview Board of Education will be holding a regular meeting this coming Monday, Aug. 9 at the high school media center, with a special committee meeting just prior to the normal 7 p.m. start time.
At 6:30 p.m. the Budget Committee of the Board will hold a special committee meeting that will be open to the public to discuss the planned ESSER III expenditures for the year. The Committee will be taking public comment about the ESSER III funds, and how the public feels the funds should be used.
The ESSER funding as been provided to the school to help children and teachers return to school safely, to help with any unfinished learning because of COVID situations last year, and to help create a safe environment.
Part of the regulations for the funding calls for the Board, and its committee, to take public comment on the expenditure of the funds for ideas about how to effectively use them.
Following the committee meeting, the full Board will convene for their August meeting to discuss an energy audit, hear comments from the budget committee, review board policies 508.04-.07, review the second draft of the Nebraska Health Standards, discuss the Board’s COVID response and “Board Development.”
Action items for the board will include the second reading of the addition to the Board’s policy on adding a random drug testing for all students involved in any school activities.
The testing will be mandatory, on a random basis, for all students that wish to participate in any 9-12 extracurricular activities that are school sponsored – including but not limited to all sports, quiz bowl, one acts and speech, National Honor Society, NTHS, Yearbook, FCA, Leadership Team, FFA, and music programs.
The student’s participation in the testing program will remain active until they request to have their form dropped or they no longer are enrolled in the district. If dropped, the student cannot participate again for 12 months. Students have a 15 day reconsideration period for a dropped form. The testing will be confidentially scheduled by the Superintendent or designee to ensure that the testing is random, and it will take place through the entire year.
The collection process will be conducted in a manner that protects student privacy, but also guards for tampered specimens – to the extent that the testing involves the “collection of urine, an adult monitor is to wait outside a closed restroom stall and listen for the normal sounds of urination.”
The testing procedures and mechanism are to be created by the Superintendent or designee and is intended to be modeled on the testing of CDL employees – to detect only the use of illegal drugs, including but not limited to: amphetamines, marijuana, cocaine, steroids, opiates, and barbiturates, not medical conditions or the presence of authorized prescription medications.
If a positive test is found the consequences range from a 14 day suspension on first offense to a year suspension for a fourth offense, counseling with a certified drug counselor, and continued testing – but there appear to be no legal consequences for a positive test. Students can appeal the tests – consequences, errors in the testing result and appeal language is listed below:
Testing Positive
Any of the following shall be considered to be a positive test result: A confirmed positive drug or alcohol test; Refusal to participate in testing when selected, including the submission of a Drop Form upon being requested to be tested; Tampering with the specimen collection process
First Offense
The student’s parents or guardians will be contacted and a meeting will be held to discuss the positive test result. The student will be notified of suspension from competitions and extracurricular activities for at least 14 calendar days. If out of season or competition, the student will be suspended for 14 calendar days when their activity starts and miss a minimum of one contest/performance. If all activities in which the student participates cease before the end of the suspension, the remainder of the suspension will carry over to the following year’s activities so the student completes the required number of days.
The student must complete a drug and alcohol assessment by a certified drug counselor at the student’s expense within 30 days of the positive test and follow any recommendations made therein for treatment at the student’s expense. Cooperation with counseling must be documented monthly until such time as the student is successfully discharged by the counselor. A district-administered negative test must be provided before the student may return to the activity. The student will be subject to follow-up drug tests at least one time per month following the student/parent meeting, for the next 12 months or end upon graduation.
Second Offense
The student’s parents or guardians will be contacted and a meeting will be held to discuss the positive test result.
The student will be notified of suspension from competitions and extracurricular activities for at least 30 calendar days. If out of season or competition, the student will be suspended for 30 calendar days when their activity starts and miss a minimum of one contest/performance. If all activities in which the student participates cease before the end of the suspension, the remainder of the suspension will carry over to the following year’s activities so the student completes the required number of days.
The student must complete a drug and alcohol assessment by a certified drug counselor at the student’s expense within 30 days of the positive test and follow any recommendations made therein for treatment at the student’s expense. Cooperation with counseling must be documented monthly until such time as the student is successfully discharged by the counselor. A district-administered negative test must be provided before the student may return to the activity. The student will be subject to follow-up drug tests at least one time per month following the student/parent meeting, for the next 12 months or end upon graduation.
Third Offense
The student’s parents or guardians will be contacted and a meeting will be held to discuss the positive test result. The student will be notified of suspension from competitions and extracurricular activities for 1 year. If out of season or competition, the student will be suspended for 1 year when their activity starts and miss a minimum of one contest/performance. If all activities in which the student participates cease before the end of the suspension, the remainder of the suspension will carry over to the following year’s activities so the student completes the required number of days.
The student must complete a drug and alcohol assessment by a certified drug counselor at the student’s expense within 30 days of the positive test and follow any recommendations made therein for treatment at the student’s expense.
Cooperation with counseling must be documented monthly until such time as the student is successfully discharged by the counselor. A district-administered negative test must be provided before the student may return to the activity. The student will be subject to follow-up drug tests at least one time per month following the student/parent meeting, for the next 12 months or end upon graduation.
Fourth Offense
The student’s parents or guardians will be contacted and a meeting will be held to discuss the positive test result.
Suspension of eligibility to participate in activities for the remainder of the student’s time as a student at Plainview Public Schools
Appeal
A student participating in extracurricular activities who has been determined by the principal or Drug Program Coordinator to be in violation of this policy shall have the right to appeal the decision to the Superintendent or his/her designee(s).
Such request for a review must be submitted to the Superintendent in writing within 48 hours of notice of the positive test. A student requesting a review will remain eligible to participate in any extracurricular activities until the review is completed. The Superintendent or his/her designee(s) shall then determine whether the original finding was justified.
No further review of the Superintendent’s decision will be provided, and his/her decision shall be conclusive in all respects. Any necessary interpretation or application of this policy shall be in the sole and exclusive judgment and discretion of the Superintendent which shall be final and non-appealable.
The Board will also consider:
* Approving bid for window replacement in the AG Shop;
* Discuss action on purchasing new printers/copiers for Elementary and High School workshops for $26,500;
* Discuss action on a new floor scrubber for $7,500;
* Discuss action on renovating the south entrance door to accommodate a handicap access for $10,500.
* Discuss supporting the TeamMates program again this year. The board meeting will be open to the public.