Random Drug Testing, School Performance Discussed At Wawasee
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BY Brandy Reincke-
SYRACUSE - Wawasee School Board heard from high school principal, Don Harman, concerning random drug testing during its monthly meeting Tuesday night.
A proposed policy would allow for students driving to school and involved in extracurricular activities to be tested at random. Although there are many issues that still need to be finalized, students testing positive will likely be suspended from their respective privilege.
The school's overall goal is to handle any positive tests with positive reinforcement including counseling and repeat testing. Any student that raises reasonable suspicion may also be tested on school premises.
Also new to the district is the Energy Leadership contract encouraging energy conservation through behavior. Energy Leadership will work with the district to instill energy savings through participation of faculty and students. Assistant principal Tony Cassell will work alongside students with a grant from REMC to demonstrate energy conservation and ownership of the initiative at the high school.
In other news, Harman also announced the change in the graduation date for the 2010-2011 school year. The ceremony will take place at 10 a.m. June 11. The final day for students will be June 7.
During its February meeting, the Wawasee School Board was presented with a plan of action regarding the high school's academic probation status. Harman reported 190 out of 385 high schools in northern Indiana were placed on academic probation in 2010.
This is a rise from 38 schools in 2008. According to Harman, 66.8 percent of students reportedly passed required testing.
As a consequence in the first year of this probationary period, schools must notify the public and revise the existing improvement initiatives. The action plan in place entails collaboration between faculty, staff, and departments. In addition, curriculum alignments and attendance policies will be reviewed. Other efforts involve analyzing middle school preparation.
In other news, Lisa Ernsberger reported on the High Ability Program. This program is designed to recruit outstanding students for advanced placement.
The goal is to have students realize and work to their potentials. The program focuses on many criteria such as age, experience and environment. This initiative is corporation- wide. Teachers are being trained in advanced learning and schools are inviting parent participation.
Some goals of the program are for students to be able to test out of material, tiered lesson plans in the classroom to cater to individual student needs and communication between parents and teachers of advanced students to ensure optimum success.
