Sommer Woodward
PRYOR — Pryor School Board revised the student drug testing and employee sick leave policy and hired personnel during their monthly meeting Monday.
The student drug testing policy applies to all students in extra-curricular activities. The school randomly tests 180 students throughout the year.
Previously, the school tested students three times per year. With the revision, the school will pick students randomly once a month for the test.
Another change in the policy is the school is changing from a five-panel drug screening to an 11-panel drug screening. The five-panel screening tested for cocaine, amphetamine, marijuana, opiates and PCP. The 11-panel drug screen will test for amphetamine, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, cocaine, opiates, methamphetamine, methadone, PCP, oxycodone, marijuana, hydrocodone and darvocet.
The policy requires students who test positive on on their drug screen to attend counseling and provide the school with proof of their counseling attendance within an established timeline.
If a student is selected to participate in a test, and leaves the school property before the test can be administered, they will be ineligible to participate in any extra-curricular activities until they submit to the drug test.
The school established a district-wide sick leave sharing program. Superintendent Don Raleigh said the program is to help employees who may suffer a serious medical condition. If an employee has exhausted all their sick leave, they may approach the board and request to participate in the sick-leave sharing program. Other district employees can anonymously donate their sick leave to the employee. If any sick leave is left over, the hours will be pro-rated and returned to the employees who donated.
In other business:
• The board accepted the resignation of Mylisa Gaines as junior high secretary and hired Cheryl Adams for the position.
• Johnie Shannon was hired as a half-day music teacher at Jefferson Elementary.
• The board hired Summer Vance as special education aide at Roosevelt Elementary.
• The board rescinded a previously approved performance contract with Siemens for replacement of HVAC and other energy infrastructure components, then approved a performance contract with Siemens for replacement of lighting and energy control components through the district to save the school money on energy. Raleigh explained the school’s attorney thought the HVAC part of the contract didn’t meet standards, so the board rescinded that portion. The board rejected all bids for the HVAC chillers and coolers, and will allow companies to resubmit bids.
• Raleigh was authorized by the board to serve as the agent for the school district in all matters dealing with the City of Pryor for land issues with the building site at Roosevelt Elementary.
• In the Superintendent’s report, Raleigh said bids for the project at Roosevelt went out Tuesday, July 28. A pre-bid conference is planned for Aug. 11,
10 a.m., in the board room. The bid opening is set for Aug. 20. Bids on the early childhood building and gym at Lincoln are expected to go out Sept. 7. All projects for the bond package are being scheduled and prepared for bids.
He reported the school district and all building sites received accreditation with no deficiencies from the State Department of Education.
The district is beginning a review of all science, math and technology curriculum (STEM Initiative) this school year. A meeting with all science, math and technology teachers is Monday,
Aug. 10. He reported the effort is to move to an inquiry based, critical thinking approach.
Smart Boards are almost in place. Raleigh reported the school has a Smart Board in almost every classroom in
the district. Computers throughout the district have been upgraded.
Buses have been ordered, and six of them may be in by the end of September. The lift bus arrive in November. The school added the camera option and wet sleeve engine option to all buses. The wet sleeve engine allows new sleeves to be easily installed without any machining or other special operations on the block casting. Warranties were included, with 10 years on the engine and 8 years on the brakes.
Raleigh said the school will benefit from the City of Pryor bond election with the library expansion, tennis courts, baseball field and PYO remodel. He said the softball, baseball and soccer fields help the students outside of the school.
