Conducting a staff survey and expanding drug testing to all staff and students were debated at the Les Cheneaux Community Schools Board of Education meeting Monday, April 21.

Extensive discussion resulted in board approval to distribute a survey to staff. The survey form was approved with one change, and the survey results will be discussed at the board's May meeting.

Trustees Marianne Coyne, Ronda McGreevy, and Kate Ter Haar of the superintendent evaluation committee proposed the survey last month and compiled the questions and survey method. Asked by President Dan Burrows what they plan to do with the results, Mrs. Ter Haar said it will provide a "state of the school" picture and give the board valuable input on school issues. They believe the survey will not only give staff an outlet for comments, but also a voice with which they can speak on facilities, whether student needs are being met, what the board can do to make the staff do their job better, and whether they think questions and concerns are answered.

Mr. Burrows thinks the survey may give staff unrealistic expectations the board will act on any complaints they have, and that the survey has potential to cause problems. Mrs. Ter Haar and Mrs. Coyne disagreed, and think it will be a useful tool.

Trustees acted on a suggestion to reword one of the questions to ask what staff think are the three greatest strengths of the school, and what three things they could do without. Completed surveys are due back May 12, and trustees plan to discuss results at the May 19 meeting.

Extensive discussion on expanding drug testing to all staff and students, not just bus drivers and student athletes, drew comments from a cross section of the school community and prompted President Burrows to direct the policy committee to draft some recommendations. Staff reactions to the proposal ranged from commending the board for heading in the right direction, to complaining that staff should not be held to the same standards as students, for whom alcohol consumption and smoking is illegal.

Action on adopting policy changes was tabled to the May meeting. Trustees visited the topic because of proposed changes to the policy for drug testing of athletes, among other policy changes.

"At least this is a big step," Mrs. Ter Haar said. "I have heard this murmured around the school and community, but I have never heard this brought up around the table before."

Superintendent Rod Goehmann said the policy committee is interested in random drug testing for athletes if there is reasonable suspicion of use.

Trustees questioned why the policy does not also cover the entire student population and all staff, especially as the district is mandated by the state to be a drug free zone.

"It's not in the teaching contract, and if we want to have it, we would have to negotiate it," Mr. Burrows said. "We have a random drug testing program in place for bus drivers because it's a state mandate."

Mr. Goehmann is unsure if the district can introduce random drug testing for the entire student population because public schools cannot deny a student an education based on drug use that may or may not have occurred off campus.