The INDEPENDENT, April 1, 2004
Page 13
School board considers drug policy for extracurricular activities
Policies and curriculum re-
lating to athletics and activities
at Banks High School (BHS)
again dominated the agenda
for the Banks School board, at
their March 8 meeting.
Superintendent Marilyn Mc-
Glasson outlined three issues
concerning the student activi-
ty/athletics contract, which pro-
hibits participants from using
drugs and alcohol. She ex-
Community Foundation tells
council scope of new project
Banks City Council, at a work-
shop prior to their March 9 meet-
ing, heard a presentation from
members of the Banks Com-
munity Foundation (BCF). Fol-
lowing a brief overview of the his-
tory of the foundation by Denise
Dethlefs, chairman Steward
Douglas told the council about
the “Sound Stage Project.”
Tracey Rowatt, who has film
industry experience, explained
that Oregon has everything in
landscapes and climates, but
the Pacific Northwest lacks
good facilities for pre- and post-
production work, so film com-
panies must pack up and go to
Canada or back to California.
Rowatt led the group to select a
feasibility study for a sound
stage as the foundation’s first
big project.
There are a few small pro-
duction facilities, but BCF’s
study will look at a large-scale
production facility that can pro-
vide sustainable growth and
employment diversity. The
study will be funded by a
$10,000 matching grant from
the Ford Family Foundation.
The Banks area is a desir-
able location, Dontes Reyes
told the council, because of a
strong transportation infrastruc-
ture and the growth pattern of
the area. Additionally, Wash-
ington County is working to cre-
ate a one-stop permit process
to facilitate further develop-
ment in the film/video industry.
Dethlefs concluded by say-
ing that the Sound Stage Pro-
ject is the first project for BCF
but is not the only project under
consideration.
Following the workshop,
Public Works Superintendent
Tim Grossnickle reported that
the data/computer link to the
water system had been in-
stalled. The system, which pro-
vides minute-by-minute data
from every area of the city’s
water system to a central loca-
tion, has already enabled
Grossnickle to isolate a leak-
age problem on the Sellers
Road line.
Banks Police Officer Kevin
Duggan told council that he has
taken a job in Hillsboro. He
thanked them for the opportuni-
ty to serve the community and
said he would maintain close
ties to Banks. Mayor Bob Or-
lowski asked council to consid-
er hiring one of the reserve offi-
cers to fill the vacancy. Officer
Bruce Bringman told council
that there had been a notice-
able increase in drug activity,
driving under the influence and
parties.
Councilor Kirk Andrews re-
ported that the parks commit-
tee continues to be hampered
by lack of a quorum. He is try-
ing to get some new members.
In other business council:
• Approved $150 expendi-
ture for an analysis of its com-
puter systems to determine
what the city’s needs may be.
• Approved the city auditor’s
contract for a three-year period.
• Appointed Debra Deegan
Budget Officer.
• Set a determination of nui-
sance hearing for property at
263 &265 Wilkes Street at next
month’s meeting.
plained that administrators
were seeking clarification and
revision of policy.
The primary issue is that,
currently, coaches may develop
stricter rules than those set by
board policy, which has result-
ed in inconsistent treatment of
students, depending on the
sport. McGlasson told the
board that the issue must be
addressed to insure that all stu-
dents are treated equally. The
second issue is a minor revi-
sion of language making cor-
rections that should also be ad-
dressed as soon as possible.
The third issue, which was
discussed at length during the
February meeting, is creation
of a stronger policy regarding
the use of drugs and alcohol.
Policy revisions may be made
only by the board and, accord-
ing to complaints received from
coaches and reports from ad-
ministrators, the current policy
does not serve as an effective
deterrent. As an example, BHS
Principal Jim Foster told the
board that, as student athletes
approached the ten-day win-
dow between sports, flyers
were confiscated at the school
about a “big beer bash.”
A broad-based committee of
coaches, parents and students,
put together by BHS Athletic Di-
rector Jim Smith to consider the
issues, recommended some
changes at the last meeting.
The major change recommend-
ed is to extend suspensions
from ten days to 28 calendar
days and a minimum of three
contests for the first offense.
Other recommendations includ-
ed a statement that the contract
would be enforced as written
for all athletics and activities,
and that consequences would
carry forward from one sports
season to the next. The group
was also asked to research
policies in other districts.
Committee presents
recommendations
Reporting on the commit-
tee’s review, Smith said the en-
tire committee “really liked the
28 days.” Suzanne Alley, vol-
leyball coach, parent and com-
mittee member, told the board
“the weekend between [sports
seasons] is pretty lethal around
this town.” This view was sup-
ported at city council the follow-
ing day when police officer
Bruce Bringman reported that
seizures of marijuana in-
creased dramatically in the last
month along with an increase in
DUIIs and party activity.
In an effort to develop a con-
tract that would serve as an ef-
fective deterrent, and based on
a review of policies in other dis-
tricts, the committee recom-
mended an additional change
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which would hold students ac-
countable for the school year,
beginning with daily doubles in
August. Smith told the board
that the committee believed
this would provide students
with “a tool to empower kids to
combat peer pressure…that it
sends a strong message that
this is a commitment for their
lives, not just for a season.”
Student committee member
Annie Schlegel told the board
that she definitely believed that
the stricter rules would be used
as a tool. She told the board
that students often are more
successful when declining to
participate if they have a rea-
son other than just not wanting
to imbibe. She said that kids
show more respect “if you have
an excuse” such as missing a
significant number of games.
After discussing the differ-
ences between sports and ac-
tivities, the committee reduced
the contest prohibition for activ-
ities to one contest because
many activities, such as FFA,
have so few contests. Smith
told the board that the feedback
he had received from coaches
was VERY supportive.
The revised contract will be
presented to the board for a
first reading in April to allow fur-
ther deliberation by the board in
order to determine what is best
for the district.
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Mon-Fri
8 am-6 pm
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