DCSD has a full plate

6/09 tahoe mt. news

By Kathryn Reed

Seventeen Nevada K-12 superintendents are expected this month to decide the fate of athletics throughout the state, as well as the entire South Shore.
With South Tahoe High being part of the NIAA (Nevada Interscholastic Athletics Association), its fate and Whittell High’s are tied together.
California schools in the NIAA are not represented in the superintendents’ roundtable discussions.
After the May superintendents’ meeting, Douglas County School District’s Carol Lark said she wanted to consult with her principals and athletic directors about the potential realignment of athletic divisions before voting on consolidation.
Donny Borges, STHS athletic director, advised the LTUSD school board last month the reduction of divisions could bode well for the Vikings. However, particulars about how it might affect junior varsity sports have not been forthcoming.
The NIAA, like all educational entities, is trying to save a few bucks. Reduction of referees at games, fewer games and varying travel distances are all being discussed. The elimination of sports, so far, has not come to light. However, with the California budget crisis, that is a potential reality for many schools.

Whittell High

No matter what the superintendents and NIAA board decide, Whittell will be without a vice principal in the fall. Dan Wold’s job has been eliminated. He is likely to be working in the valley.
“What we did is we changed that position from a vice principal to athletic director,” Lark explained. “It’s related to the budget.”
As of press time, the district was interviewing for the AD job. The AD can discipline students, but cannot supervise staff.
It’s unlikely the high school will go to a four-day school week in the fall. The issue was pulled by Lark from the May 20 school board agenda. She said this was because the proposal had two calendars; one similar to what was presented to the board earlier in the spring and a hybrid “that was more complex.” Lark said it’s possible a no-Friday school week could be implemented in spring 2010.
“We still need to survey the entire community. It would affect families at Zephyr Cove as well,” Lark said.
Random drug testing of all DCSD high school students involved in sports and activities outside the classroom like band and speech will start in the fall. Parents of students who would not be tested can request their child be tested. The urine tests will not be done on the two lower grades at Whittell.
Lark said with 34 expulsions in the 2008-09, administrators decided something had to be done to deter drug use since the bulk of expulsions were drug related.
“One that keeps coming up is ecstasy, but an increasing number of kids are abusing the medicine cabinet and over the counter (drugs). Kids are drinking NyQuil and Robitussin,” Lark said.
The tests can also reveal if alcohol and nicotine are being used.
“The whole idea is not to be punitive. It is designed to provide our student with a deterrent,” Lark said. “They need to know we care enough to monitor.
It costs about $27 per test, with donations from athletic organizations funding the bulk of the program. Tests will be done at least every other week.
With some of the November bond money being spent this summer to replace the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system at Whittell, fingers are crossed it will eliminate the persistent radon issue at the school. Problem rooms will be retested after the HVAC system is in place.