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P 2642 Student Drug Testing

Purpose

Alcohol and drug abuse are serious problems. Schools, including Monroe City R-I School District, are not immune. Even students involved in extra-curricular activities are increasingly using alcohol and are experimenting with prescription drugs and "street drugs" such as marijuana and cocaine.

The educational program and drug-testing program described in these materials is part of an overall physical conditioning program at Monroe City R-I School District. The goal is not to levy discipline, but rather to aid in discovery and prevention of possible drug- related problems. The key component of this program is opening the lines of communication between students and parents about the serious matter of drug usage and abuse and to offer support for those that may need it.

We believe that students at Monroe City High School need to have assistance in dealing with the peer pressure associated with drugs and alcohol. This process will help give them another way to say "NO" to those things.

The program is mandatory to all students participating in MSHSAA sponsored activities. These include athletics and extracurricular activities (Band, Cheerleading, Choir, Dance, and Quiz Bowl). A student using drugs is a danger to him/herself as well as other students. All students in the Monroe City High School who choose to participate in a covered activity are entitled to do so in a drug free environment.

The program does not affect other policies and practices of the school in dealing with drugs or alcohol use or possession where reasonable suspicion is obtained by means other than the mandatory and random sampling discussed here. All students involved in the covered activities will be included in the random pool for testing; once a student's name enters the testing pool, they will be in the pool for 365 calendar days and subject to random testing.

Consequences

Consequences for a non-negative test shall be suspension from participation in covered activities for a period of 15 school days from when the test results were determined. The student will also need to attend one (1) drug counseling session. A mandatory test must be taken by the student on the next random screening date or sooner. This will be at the expense of the student and parent/guardian. This test must show a decrease in the level detected in the urine and be administered within 45 days of the original positive test. The lab testing facility must be pre-approved by the school district, must be a SAMSHA certified lab, and the test must include the substances tested for in the school testing program. The student may not attend practice sessions, team functions or sit with or participate with fellow participants during activities until a second test has verified that the levels are decreasing.

This is to ensure the student is no longer using the drugs and is safe to continue with practice in the covered activity. After the student presents a non-negative test for illegal substances, he or she will be subject to non-random testing at the request of the administration. The student may be tested in this manner for 365 calendar days beginning from the date of the first non-negative result. Testing procedures will remain identical to the random testing procedures. A second non-negative test occurring after 45 days of the confirmative screening, mandatory or random, will result in the student being ineligible to participate in all covered activities for 365 calendar days and until the student produces a negative screening. A third non-negative result occurring after 45 days of the 2nd non-negative screening will result in permanent loss of covered activities for his/her high school career.

Drug Counseling and Assistance

The main goal of this drug testing policy is to educate students regarding the serious problems of drug and alcohol abuse. As such, drug counseling and assistance programs will be required by the school district for any student with a non-negative test under this policy. Failure to meet this requirement will result in dismissal from the covered activity for the remainder of the season or school year. In addition, the student will not be allowed to participate in any activity until this requirement has been met. If requested by the parent/guardian, assistance in obtaining help for the student will be provided by the school counselors. Any assistance otherwise or enrollment into any other drug counseling sessions will be the responsibility of the student and parent/guardian. The school district will not request or accept any information regarding the treatment of students participating in a drug counseling program, other than enrollment in or completion of an approved program.

First Offense: All students with a non-negative test shall be required at the individual's
expense to undergo a one (1) session screening. The screening is to provide guidance for the student, parents, coaches, and school officials to determine if additional intervention such as counseling or treatment shall be considered. The counselor, with the legal consent of the parent and/or student is to provide a written report of the screening to the school.

Second Offense: All students involved in a second non-negative test are expected to undergo appropriate counseling and treatment for said problem. This is to be done at
the individual's expense. If the student completes the school approved program, the punishment will be reduced to 180 days.

Third Offense: Permanent loss of covered activities for his/her high school career.

View Regulation


Board Approved Date: August 2018
Last Updated: September 2007