Random drug testing of athletes was briefly discussed at the Mancos school board meeting on Monday, March 16.
Heath Showalter, K-12 dean of students, told the board that the Ignacio schools is testing athletes and that he wasn't opposed to a similar action in Mancos.
"It's a good deterrent," he said. "It also gives kids a good out to say 'no.'"
"Heroine is making a tremendous comeback in 18-to- 20-year-olds," said Wesley A. Rivera, board vice president.
Board member Blake Mitchell expressed support for testing performance-enhancing drugs, and president Monty Guiles said the board may discuss the legality of testing at a later date.
Update on testing opt-outs
Secondary school Principal Adam Priestley reported that the middle and high schools have received 30-plus parental requests to opt their children out of the PARCC test - the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers. Mancos students begin testing on Monday, March 23.
School board president Monty Guiles, unclear about state law regarding testing, said officials should have decided the issue on their own.
Superintendent Brian Hanson explained that state law obligates schools to give the test, but that he's working on an alternative, Innovative Status that would allow the school to opt out of the tests next year.
"I would support schoolwide not giving the tests. I like that we have taught right through and not stopped for TCAP or CSAP or PARCC or whatever the acronym of the day is," Guiles said.
Other points of discussion
The board got its first look at next year's school calendar. It will be posted on the district website this week for public comment, Hanson said. The board is expected to approve the calendar on April 20.
Some details:
The first day of the year would be Aug. 25.
About two staff days a month are planned, mostly on Fridays.
Thanksgiving break is a week long and Christmas break is two weeks long. Spring break is a week long and starts earlier, on March 21.
Board members discussed at length the San Juan Board of Cooperative Educational Services.
BOCES is asking local districts to pay an additional $8,000 for a special-education coordinator that would be shared among schools in Montezuma and Dolores counties. Hanson told the board he had a hard time paying that money when the BOCES director is still part-time and getting paid over $100,000.
Elementary Principal Cathy Epps defended BOCES, saying it "is the most exceptional team I've worked with."
Epps also reported that an Oct. 1 count revealed 30 new students.
"That's exciting we have continuous growth," she said, adding that the elementary now has a waiting list for transfer students.
Priestley announced that four Destination Imagination teams qualified for state competition.
Priestley also said he hopes to add three minutes to each class next year. Classes currently are 57 minutes.