JICH-R - Drug and Alcohol Use by Students Procedures
Book: J
Section: Students
Title: Drug and Alcohol Use by Students Procedures
Code: JICH-R
Status: Active
DRUG AND ALCOHOL USE BY STUDENTS PROCEDURES
I. HIGH SCHOOL/MIDDLE SCHOOL PROCEDURES
A. Voluntary Referral (student, parent, school staff, peer, or other concerned person)
1. The concerned individual is to notify administration or student assistance team member or designated student assistance counselor of incident or concern.
2. Administrator or student assistance team member or designated student assistance counselor meets with student to discuss concern.
3. Administrator or student assistance team or designated student assistance counselor will notify parent or guardian (if appropriate and with proper student consent).
4. Encourage student to meet with student assistance team member or designated student assistance counselor to develop and follow through with action plan.
5. Recommendations of student assistance team or designated assistance counselor may be:
a. Internal referral to a social worker, counselor, or appropriate support group in school, etc.; or
b. External referral to AA, Al-Anon, Al-Ateen, NA, or other community-based agency.
6. The administrator or student assistance team member or designated student assistance counselor will let referring person know of plan of action if student signs proper release-of-information form.
7. Student assistance team or designated student assistance counselor will monitor student’s progress.
B. Disciplinary Action
1. Type one: Possession/Use
a. First Offense
1) Verification
2) Administrator meets with student
3) Notification of parent or guardian and arrange meeting
4) Notification of police, Superintendent, and probation/parole officer if applicable
5) The student will be suspended for five (5) days in accordance with due process procedures and will be ineligible for extracurricular activities for a period of four (4) weeks.
6) The administrator may reduce the suspension to two (2) days and loss of extracurricular eligibility to one (1) week if:
a) The student agrees to meet with a student assistance team member or designated student assistance counselor for an assessment. Recommendations will be reviewed by the administrator and representative member(s) of the student assistance team or designated student assistance counselor and an appropriate action plan will be developed.
OR
b) The student and family agree to a drug and alcohol assessment provided by a mutually agreed-upon, state-approved alcohol/drug counselor or by a counselor mutually agreed upon by family and student assistance team. Those recommendations will be reviewed by the school administrator and representative members of the student assistance team or designated student assistance counselor and an appropriate action plan will be developed.
7) The student and parent or guardian meet with administrator and student assistance team or designated student assistance counselor to review recommendations and appropriate action plan will be developed.
b. Second Offense
1) Verification;
2) Administrator meets with student;
3) Notification of parent or guardian;
4) Notification of police, Superintendent, and probation/parole officer if applicable;
5) The student will be suspended for ten (10) days in accordance with due process procedures and will be ineligible for extracurricular activities for a period of one (1) school quarter.
6) The administrator may reduce the suspension to three (3) days and loss of extracurricular eligibility to three (3) weeks if:
a) The student agrees to meet with a student assistance team member or designated student assistance counselor for an assessment. Recommendations will be reviewed by the administrator and representative member(s) of the student assistance team or designated student assistance counselor and an appropriate action plan will be developed.
OR
b) The student and family agree to a drug and alcohol assessment provided by a mutually agreed-upon, state-approved alcohol/drug counselor or by a counselor mutually agreed-upon by family and student assistance team. Those recommendations will be reviewed by the school administrator and representative members of the student assistance team or designated student assistance counselor and an appropriate action plan will be developed.
7) The student and parent or guardian meet with administrator and student assistance team or designated student assistance counselor to review recommendations, and an appropriate action plan will be developed.
8) A second offense may constitute grounds for the recommendation of long-term suspension or expulsion, according to due process procedures.
Participation in the student assistance program is voluntary. At all times it is the prerogative of the student and/or parent or guardian to accept or reject referral to the student assistance program or to community-based services.
Reductions in length of suspension, or extracurricular ineligibility, or withholding of expulsion may be revoked by the administrator whenever a student fails to demonstrate compliance with expectations of the student assistance program.
2. Type two: Furnishing/Distributing/Selling
a. First Offense
1) Confiscate substance;
2) Administrator meets with student;
3) Parent or guardian notified;
4) Notification of police, Superintendent, and probation/parole officer if applicable;
5) Suspend student for ten (10) days;
6) Recommend referral to clinical evaluation by RSAC, LSAC, or state-approved chemical dependency program; and
7) Long-term suspension and School Committee action (possible recommendation for expulsion) in accordance with due process procedures.
b. Second Offense
1) Follow all steps for first offense (1-7); and
2) Recommendation for expulsion in accordance with due process procedures.
II. K-5 PROCEDURES
A. Voluntary Referral (student, parent, school staff, peer, or other concerned person)
1. Notify Administrator or Student Assistance Team member or designated student assistance counselor of incident or concern.
2. Administrator or Student Assistance Team member or designated student assistance counselor meets with student to discuss concern and develop appropriate action plan.
3. Notify parent/guardian (when appropriate).
4. A Student Assistance Team member or designated student assistance counselor will be designated to assist student in following recommendations and implementing action plan.
B. Disciplinary Action
1. Type one: Possession/Use
a. First Offense
1) Verify and confiscate substance;
2) Administrator meets with student;
3) Administrator notifies and meets with parent/guardian;
4) Notification to police, Superintendent, or probation/parole officer if applicable;
5) Disciplinary action as appropriate;
6) Referral to the Student Assistance Team or designated student assistance counselor;
7) Recommendation may be to education/support group;
8) Student Assistance Team member or designated student assistance counselor meets with parent to share recommendation; and
9) Refer to State Department of Human Services when appropriate.
b. Second Offense
1) Follow all steps for first offense (1-8);
2) Suspension in accordance with due process procedures; and
3) Referral to Department of Human Services.
2. Type two: Furnishing/Distributing/Selling
a. First Offense
1) Verify and confiscate substance;
2) Administrator meets with student;
3) Notify parents/guardian and Superintendent;
4) Notify police;
5) Meet with Student Assistance Team member or designated student assistance counselor;
6) Refer to educational or self-help group; and
7) Refer to Department of Human Services.
III. PROCEDURES FOR SCHOOL-SPONSORED ACTIVITIES
A. Disciplinary Action
1. Type one: Possession/Distributing/Use
a. First Offense
1) Remove student from function and/or return to school;
2) Call parent/guardian to pick up student;
3) Notify police if necessary;
4) Superintendent notified;
5) Notify administrator of incident;
6) Administrator meets with student; and
7) Follow steps for Disciplinary Action Section II (B).
IV. PROCEDURES FOR MEDICAL EMERGENCIES
Because of the potential dangers to the student presented by his/her acute intoxication with alcohol or other drugs, students exhibiting evidence of intoxication, incapacitation, or drug overdose in school or at school-sponsored events will be transported by MEDCU immediately to a local hospital, followed by immediate notification of parents and police. Following his/her return to school, disciplinary action will be implemented.
The student will be referred to school administrator for follow-up actions as indicated in this and any other applicable policy.
V. GLOSSARY
A. The Student Assistance Team is a group of trained staff members who can identify, assess, refer, and support students with alcohol and other drug-related problems. A team may consist of an administrator, teacher, social worker, guidance counselor, nurse, psychologist, learning specialist, professional substance abuse counselor, or other community professional, or any combination of above.
B. “Under the influence” is defined as “manifesting signs of chemical use/misuse,” ie., staggering, odor of chemicals, reddened eyes, nervousness, falling asleep, memory loss. Other behavioral indicators may include decline in student’s social and/or academic performance.
C. Voluntary Referral. Any staff member who is approached by a student who is seeking help in the absence of a policy violation is expected to maintain the confidentiality of the student and refer the student to the Student Assistance Team.
D. Disciplinary Referral. Any staff member who has reasonable basis to suspect any student of possession, use, or distributing to another student of a prohibited substance is responsible to report the case immediately to the building administrator.
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