Drug-testing policy proposed

FORT RECOVERY — Random drug testing for athletes could be instituted for the 2014-15 school year.
Fort Recovery School Board gave athletics director Kurt Rammel the go-ahead to pursue a drug-testing policy for high school athletes Tuesday after he gave a presentation about the idea and a proposal for stricter penalties for those in violation of policies against use of controlled substances, alcohol and tobacco. Those potential changes would still need board approval before going into effect.
The board also discussed Common Core State Standards and hired 1999 Fort Recovery High School graduate Chris Guggenbiller as boys basketball coach (see related story).
After meeting with coaches, Rammel discussed with school board members a plan that would call for random drug testing of 20 percent of each team’s roster prior to the start of each season. He estimated the cost of testing at $325 to $650 per year.
Rammel noted that members of Fort Recovery Athletic Boosters he has spoken to have responded positively to the idea.
“They all believe it would be a huge hit within the community,” he said. “They feel like this would be something they would stand behind and support …”
Rammel also proposed eliminating the “buy back” from the violation policy.
Currently, those violating the controlled substance, alcohol and tobacco policies are suspended for 25 percent of the season for the first offense, 50 percent for a second offense and a full season for a third offense.
But, they may have half of the suspensions waived upon completion of a substance abuse intervention program.
Coaches would like to see the ability to waive part of the suspension eliminated, Rammel said.
The board also discussed Common Core, which had been a hot topic of public comment at each of the previous two meetings.
On June 4, superintendent Shelly Vaughn, board members Jose Faller and Jinny Fortkamp and two teachers met with several members of the community who have been campaigning against Common Core. Fortkamp said Tuesday that the meeting revealed a lot of common ground, specifically in regard to the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) testing, while the two sides continued to “agree to disagree” about some issues.
“I think it was mostly positive,” said Faller, the board president. “I don’t think that everyone who was against the Common Core when they came in left singing its praises, but … it was just good to get together to discuss.”
Vaughn and the board members said they believe the Common Core standards are good, but that they would support state legislation to eliminate PARCC.
In other business, board members Dave Hull, Aaron Guggenbiller, Amy Bihn, Faller and Fortkamp:
•Heard an update from Vaughn about progress on the new student activity center. Cincinnati Floor Company is expected to complete installation of the floor by the end of July, with a dedication and open house tentatively scheduled for 2 p.m. Aug. 24.
•Enrolled in the On Board! energy savings program through Waibel Energy and Dayton Power and Light.
•Accepted resignations of teachers Amy Bihn and Amanda Sudhoff and freshman boys basketball coach Bob Leverette.
•Hired teachers Kathleen Jutte (classified substitute) and Laura Heitkamp (fourth grade) and coaches Jeff Vaughn (assistant girls basketball), Bob Leverette (freshman girls basketball), Jerry Kaup (baseball), Kevin Eyink (assistant baseball), Mindy Bubp (swim), Cody Fiely (assistant middle school boys basketball) and Chelsea Rogers (junior high girls basketball).
•Accepted donations totaling more than $4,500, including one for $3,500 from Fort Recovery Athletic Boosters and Fort Recovery Community Foundation for baseball tarps.
•Learned from Vaughn that building and transportation supervisor Kurt Wendel is looking at purchasing new transportation software.
•Made several transfers, including $30,000 from the general fund to the permanent improvement fund.
•Approved keeping the same lunch prices as last year. They are as follows: kindergarten through fifth grade - $2.10, sixth through 12th grade - $2.35, adult - $3.10, extra milk – 35 cents.
•Scheduled its annual retreat for 2 to 7 p.m. Aug. 5. The event will include training for BoardDocs, a paperless program designed to create and share agendas and other documents.
•Renewed general liability insurance at a cost of $32,941, which is up about $1,200 from last year, and liability insurance for school groups at a cost of $70 each.
•Set the superintendent’s bond from Fort Recovery Insurance Agency at $50,000.
•Approved rental of Barrenbrugge Athletic Park from Fort Recovery Athletic Boosters at a cost of $1 per year through 2019.
•Set student fees for elementary and middle school ranging from $39.91 (fifth grade) to $66.92 (eighth grade).
•Adopted a Calamity Day Alternative Make-up Plan, which allows the schools to use up to three E-Days if necessary after taking five calamity days.
•Approved a leave of absence for Nicole Homan for the 2014-15 school year.

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