The Clinton County Board of Education held a special call work session Monday afternoon with all board members present. The board reviewed several topics and issues that will be on its regular meeting agenda for action next week.

The board discussed two issues with Director of Pupil Personnel Julie York, including Home School and the drug testing agreement. (A separate agreement on the Home School issue will be published in next week’s Clinton County News.)

York has recommended the district renew its contract with Forward Edge, the company that does the district’s random drug testing of bus drivers, students and staff, saying it had been a reliable company and good to work with.

This year, an additional panel of screenings will be included, that being for extended opiates, which include such items as oxycodone, oxycoton and others. The price proposed is $23 per test, compared to $20 last year.

Random testing is conducted four to five times per year and it was noted that all new employees are automatically tested, as well as employees who change positions.

Several budget items were discussed with Finance Director Mike Reeves, including the tentative budget that will be presented at the board’s business meeting.

There are some mixed news in the budget, which does show a “balanced” yet extremely “tight” budget that calls for no proposed tax increases this year.

Reeves noted that SEEK funding would not change much since the state legislature has apparently decided to keep the current funding but advised board members of IRS changes that will be coming pertaining to certified and classified withholding on Medicare and Social Security that would cost employees a little bit more annually.

The budget is able to be balanced for several reasons, including the expected number of retirees, no pay raises for any certified or classified personnel or substitute teachers and no changes in extended employment and extra service increments from the current year.

Reeves did note as well, that the high number of students on Home School was adversely affecting the district’s overall budget.

The tentative budget is the second of three budgets the district deals with each year, with the final being the working budget presented in late summer or early fall.

The board also discussed some revisions to the Food Service program, basically in establishing more updated job descriptions, as some are outdated, and making some positions district-wide as opposed to a specific school position.

Other items discussed and to be voted on next week include: Co-Treasurer and bonding; employee pay dates; the STAMP test; memberships with the GRREC (Green River Regional Cooperative) and Chamber (of Commerce) memberships; certified valuation plan; declaring items as surplus property and school trips.

The board will hold its regular monthly business meeting Monday, May 16 at 5 p.m. at the Central Office board room. The meeting is open to the general public.