The Panther Valley School Board narrowly approved a random drug testing policy for those students who are involved in extracurricular activities and who seek to have parking privileges, with a 5-4 vote at last night's meeting.

Directors Mickey Angst, Irene Genther, Donna Trimmel, and Bill Hunsicker voted against the policy, while directors Anthony Pondish, Dave Hiles, Jeff Markovich, Anthony DeMarco, and Koreen Nalesnik voted in favor of it.Genther first requested that the motion be tabled, citing several items that she felt were missing in the policy."I feel that we are deficient with our written policy. I would like to see it go back to the policy committee," she said.Genther's motion to table failed. Angst, who previously supported the policy, said that his feelings have changed based on the court cases related to similar policies."The court cases for the kind of a policy we're adopting have ruled against the policy," he said. "The statistics aren't there." Angst also cited the fact that fall sports have already begun and worried about how confidential the results of a test could be."Say a star athlete flunks the test," he said. "How are we going to hide the fact that he flunked it?"Superintendent Rosemary Porembo quickly pointed out that the screening would be done at different times throughout the year and at any point if an athlete did not show up, it would only be speculation as to the reasons. She emphasized that the district would not be releasing any of the results of the tests.Markovich referred to the policy committee meeting held earlier in the week."We spent quite a bit of time with the audience on this subject," he said. "The cross country coach was here; he gave a great dissertation on it. We have a letter from the senior class president that is in favor of it. Mr. Owens (John Owens, the newly-appointed student representative to the school board) is on the football team and they support it. I didn't see a lot of people against it. The coaches want it. The senior class wants it. I'd say it's pretty much of a yes."After the vote to approve the policy, Markovich said it is a step in the right direction for the district. Policy committee chairman Anthony DeMarco added that he would rather save a child's life than fight a lawsuit that might never happen.In other business, the board heard from several representatives from Quad 3, an architecture, engineering, and environmental science firm from Wilkes-Barre, regarding the removal of chemicals from and the demolition of the property adjacent to the football stadium. David Fife, an environmental scientist with the group, explained that after meeting with business manager Kenneth Marx, and a brief tour of the facility, he felt that the district might quality for some grant money to help with the site assessment and cleanup of the site, prior to demolition, though an industrial site renewal program.According to maintenance supervisor George Krajnak, who has spoken with representatives from DEP, the district will require approval from DEP before the building is taken down, to ensure that there is no waste material that is disposed of improperly.Fife explained that the first thing Quad 3 would do is perform an assessment, which would determine what kind of hazards may be present. Several board members questioned if this step was necessary."It seems to me that we're putting the cart before the horse," said Hiles. "It's like we're already thinking this is a contaminated site that's going to need remediation." Fife stressed that he was not saying that the site had problems, only that there could be problems that are not readily apparent."Prior to the demolition, you have to make sure the building is safe," he said.Quad 3 said that they would perform the assessment and submit the grant paperwork up front."All we ask is that you would hire us to manage the project," said Samuel Scarantino, the director of operations for Quad 3. Quad 3 would put together the work plan for the site and then coordinate the project between other contractors.The board also tabled a motion to approve a contract with Behavioral Health Associates for the career development program. Several parents questioned why the district is considering changing the job coaching program for special needs students from the one that has been established with the IU.Most of the parents were concerned that a disruption in services and staff that their children have been attending and dealing with for years could lead to additional problems and stress for the students. Several directors and representatives from BHA said that each student and case would be individually reviewed before any changes were made. One of the reasons that the district has looked to contract elsewhere is the rising costs of transportation through the IU.The board accepted the resignations of Jocelyn Miller, high school physical education teacher, effective Nov. 15, and Richard Roberts, the school psychologist, effective Aug. 27. Ashley Kovalosvsky was approved as a full-time permanent elementary grade 6 learning support teacher, at a salary of $35,440.The board also granted tenure to Anne Marie Dixon, Stefanie Clark, Kara Krajnak, James Hull, Jocelyn Miller, and Susan Solt. Raymond Bressi was approved as an event staff worker. Olivia Markovich was approved as a fall worker for the 2010-11 school year. She will serve as the score board keeper for the junior high girls basketball team. Josh Wank was approved as the junior high girls basketball coach at a salary of $1300.The board granted permission for the Carbon County Juvenile Court office to continue to conduct community service projects at the stadium on Saturdays after all home football games. It was noted that this is the 14th year that this agreement has been in place and that the kids who are performing the community service do an excellent job.