D-2 to require drug tests

From the Wednesday, June 25, 2008 edition of the Northwest Herald:

D-2 to require drug tests
By DIANA SROKA - dsroka@nwherald.com

RICHMOND – All new hires in Nippersink District 2 must pass a mandatory drug test as part of pre-employment screening, the school board decided Tuesday night.

The new policy comes less than three months after the school board fired former Spring Grove Elementary School Principal Daniel Markofski, whom police allegedly found watching pornography with two teenage girls in various states of undress while investigating a marijuana odor at a Wisconsin motel.

According to the new policy, all new hires must test “negative” for drugs during pre-employment screening before the first day of employment. The school board will choose the screening provider and pay for the screening.

“This is a measure to hold future employment applicants a little more accountable,” School District Superintendent Dan Oest said after the meeting. Oest said the policy was something that the board had considered since the incident involving Markofski, 47.

“[We want to] assure the public we’re taking these measures,” Oest said.

The board voted unanimously with board member Sharon Bianchini absent from the meeting.

There was no debate surrounding the policy at Tuesday’s meeting. The only discussion surrounding the policy was a question asked by Board Vice President Sue Maurer about how much time applicants have to take the test.

After the meeting, Maurer described the policy as ”a great new step.”

The policy was first introduced last month, Oest said.

District 2 includes Richmond Grade School, Spring Grove Grade School, and Nippersink Middle School. The policy will apply to all schools in the district, Oest said.

Markofski’s final pre-trial is July 17 in Milwaukee County Court. His jury trial is scheduled to begin Aug. 6. He faces two felony counts of exposing a child to harmful material and one misdemeanor count of committing a sex act on a child age 16 or older.