District survey to affect policy

A survey posted on the Carbon County School District No. 2 (CCSD#2) may indicate future changes in policy for the school districts.

The survey, which expired Friday, asked community members for their thoughts on drug policies and district-wide calendars. Superintendent Jim Copeland said he received more than 270 responses while the survey was up. All communities were represented in the comments, including faculty, community members, students and parents.

The surveys will be examined further by the superintendent. Thus far, Copeland said he has received strong opinions on both sides of the two issues.

The drug policy was an issue that was left on Copeland’s desk as he arrived at CCSD#2 in July. The survey states a proposal to create a random drug testing pool only for those who participate in school activities in grades nine through 12. Drug testing would not be limited to those who participate in sports, but also those participate in all activities such as drama, speech, etc. A potential penalty for a positive drug could be a 60-day suspension from participating in any activity.

The current policy prohibits drug use by students in activities, but does not involve any randomized drug testing administered by the school district.

Copeland said there are still many details which need to be worked out before any drug policy is passed. Questions of how to administer the test and privacy issues would need to be addressed before the district moves forward.

Despite some arguing randomized drug testing for students violates the Fourth Amendment, which prohibits unreasonable search and seizure, the school district is fully within their legal rights to conduct a test. Public schools are legally allowed to test students who participate in actives for use of drugs, according to the 2002 Supreme Court ruling in Pottawatomie County v. Earls. In the 5-4 ruling, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas said students diminish the expectation of privacy when they choose to participate in activities.

Copeland said he does not have a strong opinion either way on drug testing. He said he will use the comments from the survey in order to make an informed decision.

While drug testing is the issue making headlines around the county, an equally important policy at stake is the proposal to create a district-wide calendar.

CCSD#2 currently allows each one of its schools to devise their own school schedules. In the Platte Valley, all of the Saratoga Schools operate on four-day school weeks whereas Encampment school operate primarily on five-day school weeks.

Copeland said the state of Wyoming requires schools to hold school for a certain number of hours throughout the school year. How the schools obtain those hours within given year are up to the given districts.

Saratoga choose the four-day school week in order to accommodate school activities. Given most away events take several hours to get to, and small enrollment at the school to begin with, school attendance is minuscule on days in which a team has to travel for an event.

However, Copeland said the problem with schools on different schedules is there is less collaboration between teachers. In schools like Encampment, there is only one teacher for each grade level. This means in order for teachers in Encampment to find time for state-mandated collaboration with other teachers in the district, Encampment has to pay for substitute teachers.

Additionally, Encampment seniors graduate a few weeks sooner than Saratoga seniors. This could give Encampment students a head start when Valley businesses look for help.

Copeland said he is in favor of adjusting to district-wide calendar, and said a small sample size of the reviews from the survey he read share his views. However, Copeland said he is aware most communities want to keep their schedules. In order for potential a district-wide calendar to be successful, he said each school would have to cooperate.

There has been no decision made on any issue on the survey. Copeland said if there is a change to the calendar, it will need to be addressed by the school board by the early spring when the school calendars are drawn up.

Both decisions will ultimately be made by the school board. Copeland said he will share the results of the survey at a later date.