GIRARD 2 school board candidates favor drug testing for district officials
The temporary closing of Prospect is no longer an issue, a candidate says.
By TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
GIRARD -- Two board of education candidates say they will raise the issue of drug testing for board members and new administrative hires.
"I don't see anything wrong with drug testing," board president Jane Harris aid.
"It's the sign of the times," Harris added, stressing she will ask the board to vote on testing.
Phil Fisher, a political novice, said he would support random drug testing.
"That's not too much to ask," he said, noting it's a child safety issue.
Harris and Fisher are among four candidates for school board seats, along with another newcomer, Myron Esposito, and incumbent Jamie DeVore.
Esposito and DeVore did not meet with Vindicator interviewers.
The issue of drug testing was raised when Superintendent Joseph Shoaf was charged and later pleaded guilty to using drugs and alcohol with a student in his high school office.
Shoaf admitted he was a drug addict and resigned.
When Shoaf was replaced by Marty Santillo in July 2002, Santillo was not asked to take a drug test.
Harris said Santillo wasn't asked to do so because the board already knew him.
Assistant superintendent
Although the district is in financial trouble -- seeking a 5.9-mill levy in the general election -- Harris said it was appropriate to hire Joseph Jeswald to a newly created position of assistant superintendent.
She said Jeswald has brought in $275,000 in grants and will be prepared to take over when Santillo returns to retirement, which he left to take over for Shoaf.
Fisher, who has three children in the Girard system, said he is "pretty pleased" with the education they are receiving.
The closing of Prospect Elementary School because of health issues as the result of poor ventilation isn't an issue in the election. "That issue has played itself out," Fisher said.
Fisher explained that he's concerned with improving class scheduling so subjects are available when pupils need them and that he thinks there is too much local emphasis on proficiency testing.
He said pupils are being asked to pass minimum state proficiency test standards. "I don't think the state is asking too much."
"We have to raise the standards," Fisher said, pointing to grade-point average as a better benchmark of learning.
Proposal
In a unique proposal, Fisher said the district should track graduating students to assure they have the skills to get more than a minimum-wage job.
The goal is for 100 percent of students to complete some sort of secondary education -- academic or vocational education -- within four or five years of high school graduation.
With this information, curriculum adjustments can be made to better prepare district pupils, he said.