Voters turn down high school bond

House says it's time to bring community back together

By OLIVIA KOERNIG / Whitefish Pilot

Champagne went uncorked at a gathering at school superintendent Jerry House's home last Thursday as news of the failed high school bond reached there around 10 p.m.

Voters had until 8 p.m. to return mail-in ballots. Fifty-nine percent opposed the bond.

"We knew it would be a tough deal because of the economy," House said. "You turn on CNN, and it's doom and gloom. But this was a democratic process, and I honor the vote and am respectful of the result."

Ballots for the $21.5 million high school bond were mailed out March 6. School district manager Danelle Reisch estimated that of the nearly 8,600 ballots, about 1,500 were returned as undeliverable. Of the ballots that did reach voters, 4,347 were returned, representing a 61 percent voter turnout.

The bond failed by 755 votes, with 1,796 in favor and 2,551 opposed. In 2003, a $10.4 million high school bond also failed. That election was closer, only failing by about 150 votes.

"This was passionate," House said. "Any time you have 50 percent voter turnout, it's huge."

In Montana, 30 percent turnout is required to validate an election, except in the case of mail-in ballots. Mail-in elections have no minimum turnout, which is why school districts tend to favor them.

House said his role now as superintendent will shift a little. He said it's time to "heal" the community.

"It's time to bring people back together for kids and for schools," House said.

Not to mention, there's still a heap of work to be done at the high school. House said the process of how to best address the school's issues will begin anew.

"Those who voted 'no' need to step forward and speak out," House said. "Down the road, there will be another opportunity for a bond, but we're not shooting from the hip."

House said he intends to send personal invitations to some of the individuals who voted against the bond. The school district will host community forums, creating an opportunity for dialogue. He expressed a strong desire to keep everything "above board." He had no timeline for when those processes might begin.

In other school news, five people announced their candidacy for the May 6 school board election. Current trustees Dave Fern and Eric Hosek will run, as will Brian McDowell, Mary Vail and Stephanie Kenkel.

Two mill levies will also be on the ballot. The district is asking voters to approve $64,919 for the K-8 schools and $46,214 for the high school.

Mandatory drug testing proposed

By OLIVIA KOERNIG

Whitefish Pilot

Amid mounting concerns over student drug and alcohol use, the Whitefish School District will host a community forum April 7 to present its tentative plan for addressing the issue.

According to superintendent Jerry House, the prevalence of drug, alcohol and tobacco use among Whitefish High School students is on the rise. But a new plan may reverse that trend.

"We're seeing an increase in drug and alcohol use in all our activities," House said. "Last fall, we had seven out of nine extracurricular activities with incidents of alcohol or drug use. As a school district, we asked, 'How can we help our students?'"

That question's answer may be found in the five-page draft of a drug and alcohol testing policy devised by a committee of coaches, medical staff, administrators, students and CARE program staff.

CARE is a Whitefish High School-sanctioned non-profit organization devoted to alcohol and drug prevention, intervention and awareness.

The policy, which is still only a working draft, opens by highlighting that participation in extra-curricular activities is a privilege, not a right. Furthermore, "student participants" are considered representatives of not only themselves but also the school and community, and they are expected to adhere to higher standards than other students.

"Students who voluntarily participate in school athletic activities and/or extracurricular activities have reason to expect intrusions upon normal rights and privileges, including privacy," the policy states.

Among the intrusions they may come to expect are pre-season and random drug testing. House described the policy as a "non-punitive, intervention" type of initiative.

The school district already has action in place to discourage student drug use. They include hosting substance-free events, utilizing a full-time school resource officer (who is also a Whitefish police officer) and enforcing consequences for students caught using drugs.

But it's not enough.

The Drug Testing Committee released said a recent survey suggested nearly 90 percent of the high school's student body has tried marijuana. Similarly, alcohol use is common and use of other drugs is not uncommon, they say.

"We're trying to take a more proactive role on drugs and alcohol," House said.

To that end, the policy states that students and their parents or guardians must consent to drug-testing in order to participate in any athletic or extracurricular activity. Prescription drug use will be tolerated, provided prior verification is submitted within an allotted time frame.

Testing will occur at the beginning of each season or activity. Thereafter, "random testing shall occur once each week during a sports season" and "up to 20 percent of all students participating, regardless of activity or sport, shall be tested on a periodic basis."

Alcohol, amphetamines, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, cocaine, ecstasy, marijuana, methadone, methamphetamine, morphine, opiates, oxycodone, phencyclidine, propoxyphene, and tricyclic antidepressants will be among the substances for which student samples will be tested. At the district's request, the laboratory may test for additional substances as well.

A positive test result will be confirmed with a second sample. If the re-test is also positive, there will be levels of consequences based on first, second and third offenses. House said testing for all students involved in extracurricular activities would cost around $5,000 a year.

Consequences for a first offense will be either drug and alcohol counseling and 15 days suspension from extracurricular competition or performances participation or suspension from extracurricular activities for the remainder of the current season and the following season. A second offense would result in a 40-day suspension form extracurricular activities. A third offense within two calendar ears would result in automatic suspension from all activity programs for the remainder of the student's high school career.

The complete draft of the drug testing policy may be viewed online at wfps.k12.mt.us.

Additionally, House acknowledged that school policies for students who are not involved in extracurricular activities will be reviewed and re-addressed as well.

The forum on April 7 will feature a presentation from the drug testing committee as well as students. It will take place at 7 p.m. in the Whitefish Middle School Performing Arts Center.

"This is a process," House said. "The school board won't adopt anything until all sides have been heard."