WATERLOO, IOWA - Arrests of two East High coaches in a month for marijuana possession won't spur Waterloo Community Schools to revise employee drug testing rules.
"State law doesn't support random drug testing of public employees," said district spokeswoman Sharon Miller.
"If we have cause to believe someone is under the influence, we certainly can direct that employee to submit to a drug test," she said. "But in terms of random testing, we really don't have the authority, as we understand the law."
Miller said that doesn't mean the district tolerates drug use.
"Our policy is very clear: You cannot be under the influence of alcohol or an illegal drug at work," she said. "You certainly are subject to discipline up to and including termination for that. You also must report an arrest for a substance abuse offense to your supervisor immediately, and failure to do that is also cause for discipline."
Recent arrests led to resignations for both coaches. Antonio Mays resigned as football coach Jan. 5 after being arrested the night before. Edward Madlock resigned as girls basketball coach Dec. 18, three days after being arrested.
In addition, Madlock is on leave from his administrative assistant position at East. Mays is education coordinator in the Iowa Jobs for America's Graduates program at East. He is employed by the program, which has a contract with the district. His job status was unknown.
"We also require pre-employment testing of all our employees," said Miller. "We provide an employee assistance program for employees or their families who are struggling with issues of addiction."
One class of district employees is subject to random drug testing - those required to have a commercial driver's license to operate school vehicles, like buses. A total of 25 percent of drivers are selected annually for alcohol tests and 50 percent are selected for drug tests. That testing is required by law.
"Our ethics are also very clear and we hold ourselves to very high standards, because we work with young people and we're role models for young people," Miller said. "So, the ethical standards for teachers and for others in the school district require, first of all, that we obey the law."
Superintendent Gary Norris, speaking to Board of Education members Monday, said the coaches' arrests are "not reflective of our school district" as a whole. He made the comments while also talking about state plans to put several Waterloo schools on a list of buildings that need assistance for being "persistently low-achieving."
Norris announced that the district will roll out a "confidence campaign" in the coming weeks to counter such negative news. The campaign will showcase "good things going on and the hard work of our teachers," he said.
News Hawk- Weedpipe 420 MAGAZINE ® - Medical Marijuana Publication & Social Networking
Source: wcfcourier.com
Author: ANDREW WIND
Contact: Home
Copyright: 2010, wcfcourier.com,
Website:Two coaches' pot arrests won't spur drug tests
"State law doesn't support random drug testing of public employees," said district spokeswoman Sharon Miller.
"If we have cause to believe someone is under the influence, we certainly can direct that employee to submit to a drug test," she said. "But in terms of random testing, we really don't have the authority, as we understand the law."
Miller said that doesn't mean the district tolerates drug use.
"Our policy is very clear: You cannot be under the influence of alcohol or an illegal drug at work," she said. "You certainly are subject to discipline up to and including termination for that. You also must report an arrest for a substance abuse offense to your supervisor immediately, and failure to do that is also cause for discipline."
Recent arrests led to resignations for both coaches. Antonio Mays resigned as football coach Jan. 5 after being arrested the night before. Edward Madlock resigned as girls basketball coach Dec. 18, three days after being arrested.
In addition, Madlock is on leave from his administrative assistant position at East. Mays is education coordinator in the Iowa Jobs for America's Graduates program at East. He is employed by the program, which has a contract with the district. His job status was unknown.
"We also require pre-employment testing of all our employees," said Miller. "We provide an employee assistance program for employees or their families who are struggling with issues of addiction."
One class of district employees is subject to random drug testing - those required to have a commercial driver's license to operate school vehicles, like buses. A total of 25 percent of drivers are selected annually for alcohol tests and 50 percent are selected for drug tests. That testing is required by law.
"Our ethics are also very clear and we hold ourselves to very high standards, because we work with young people and we're role models for young people," Miller said. "So, the ethical standards for teachers and for others in the school district require, first of all, that we obey the law."
Superintendent Gary Norris, speaking to Board of Education members Monday, said the coaches' arrests are "not reflective of our school district" as a whole. He made the comments while also talking about state plans to put several Waterloo schools on a list of buildings that need assistance for being "persistently low-achieving."
Norris announced that the district will roll out a "confidence campaign" in the coming weeks to counter such negative news. The campaign will showcase "good things going on and the hard work of our teachers," he said.
News Hawk- Weedpipe 420 MAGAZINE ® - Medical Marijuana Publication & Social Networking
Source: wcfcourier.com
Author: ANDREW WIND
Contact: Home
Copyright: 2010, wcfcourier.com,
Website:Two coaches' pot arrests won't spur drug tests
