Madill School Board revises policy for medical marijuana

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Members of the Madill School Board gathered to conduct their monthly business on Sept. 9.

The board members in attendance were President Mike Mathis, Vice President Clay Savage, Shannon Williams and Jeff Landgraf. Board member Mark Glenn was not in attendance.

About midway through the meeting the board discussed action on two policies: medical marijuana and reporting suspected child abuse and / or neglect.

Superintendent Larry Case presented details of the recommended policy changes to the board. Case said he reached out to various regional school districts to see what kind of medical marijuana policy they have. Case settled on one from the Oklahoma State School Boards Association.

“The policy is from the OSSBA,” Case said. “A lot of schools in the area have a 10-page policy. Some of those policy go into the weeds.”

Case said he previously notified the board members that a change to this policy was likely forthcoming.

“There is a student in MPS who has a medical marijuana card,” he said.

Mathis asked if the medication was on campus. Then, Case clarified that the student’s medication is not on campus.

“In the event of an incident, their provider would be notified so the medication can be administered,” Case said.

Case said he was comfortable with the policy as the impact to MPS is presently limited.

“We have more problems with kids getting into their parents and grandparents medicine cabinet than with a gummy bear,” he said. “If we don’t adopt this then we could drive this person out of the school.”

The board members briefly discussed breaking up votes for the two policies. However, they declined after a few moments of conversation.

Case said there was a minor change to the policy to report suspected child abuse.

“We are no longer going to contact DHS only but also law enforcement,” he said.

The pair of policy changes passed by a 4-0 vote.

Progress

reports

Earlier in the meeting Case turned over his superintendent’s report to various administrators in attendance.

This is the board’s first meeting since school started on Aug. 15.

First, Athletic Director Bink Stafford reported the new football field is shaping up.

Elissa Cox, principal for the Early Childhood Center said the school year is going along well so far.

Kristi Birdsong, Madill Elementary School Principal, said photo day is Sept. 11.

“The kids are loving the new playground even though it’s been hot,” Birdsong said.

The elementary school is set have a Walk to School Day on October 2, she said. Birdsong said Cale Eidson, Madill’s cross country head coach, will organize Walk to School Day.

Gaylynn Pierce, the Madill Middle School principal, also said it has been a good start to the school with exception of last month’s tragedy.

“So many members of the community came out to support our kids and staff,” Pierce said.

She added that the middle school’s annex building is now completely full of classes.

“We have Mrs. [Katelyn] Lyons doing full-time art,” she said. “In the past it’s just had a few classrooms. We added several new teachers.”

Case said parts of the annex had felt hollow previously. He added that the fine arts building is coming along.

“I’ve never been on the other side of it when I was at the other place,” he said.

High school principal Jason Ward didn’t give a report other than saying he is following construction in the district.

Other items

The board unanimously accepted a proposal by Case to begin offering term life insurance to each full-time certified teacher and support staff member. The standard policy will be for $30,000.

Case said the cost to the district will be $17,000.00 for one year.

“I feel like it’s the right thing to do,” he said.

Case said a salary proposal had been agreed with the Madill Education Association. He added that there would be a revision to how much teachers and staff members would be paid for serving as bus drivers on a trip.

“Anything over 100 miles would be $50.00 for a trip,” he said. “Otherwise it is a $30 payment to the teacher/staff member as they have a CDL. You can’t get bus drivers these days. They just don’t want to do it.”

The change for extra duty pay for serving as a bus driver passed 4-0.

The board also unanimously accepted it annual agreement with INCA for a Pre-K class.

“Last year we had two INCA Pre-K classes,” Case said. “This year there is one class. It is about 15 kids.”

The board also unanimously accepted Case’s request for a calendar adjustment due to school being cancelled on Aug. 30.

The board unanimously approved the temporary contracts of two new teachers Richardo Ibarra (math) and Katelyn Lyons (art) and a paraprofessional, Bianca Barrientos.