The Board recognizes the importance of protecting the health and safety of students from the use of illegal drugs, performance-enhancing drugs and alcohol. The purpose of this policy is to help prevent substance abuse among students, to encourage treatment for students with substance abuse problems and to ensure that students have the opportunity to attend school and participate in activities in a fair, safe and healthy environment.

The superintendent or designee is directed to adopt procedures to carry out the intent of this policy and may contact the district’s attorney for assistance in applying this policy. The district will use a laboratory certified by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Random Drug Testing

Participation in extracurricular activities and/or participating in off-campus lunch are privileges that carry the responsibility to adhere to high standards of conduct, including refraining from the use of illegal drugs, performance-enhancing drugs and alcohol. To assist students in making healthy and safe choices, the district will conduct random drug testing of students in grades 7-12 as a condition of participation in covered activities. Covered activities include participation in activities regulated by the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA), excluding all activities in which students receive an academic grade for participation. For the purposes of this policy, open campus lunch privileges will also be considered a covered activity. Seniors participating in the off-campus lunch must meet criteria outlined in Board policy 2650, Open/Closed Campus. District employees shall not have the authority to waive the testing of any student selected using the random selection process.

Students who test positive through this random testing program will be excluded from participation in covered extracurricular activities and/or off-campus lunch as follows:

First Offense – Exclusion from all covered activities for a minimum of 30 participation days and must pass a drug test administered by the district prior to participating in covered activities again.

Second Offense – Exclusion from all covered activities for a minimum of 90 participation days and must pass a drug test administered by the district prior to participating in covered activities again.

Third Offense – Excluded from all covered activities for the rest of the student’s enrollment in the district.

For the purposes of this policy, a "participation day" is each day that the extracurricular group meets, regardless of whether that meeting is a practice, a group meeting or an event. A "participation day" for off- campus lunch is a day that seniors are in attendance.

The consequences may be reduced if the student participates in drug or alcohol counseling and additional testing in accordance with procedures developed by the superintendent or designee. A positive test through this random testing program will not result in suspension from school or academic sanctions. The district will not report results to law enforcement.

Suspicion-Based Drug Testing

Suspicion-based drug testing, unlike random drug testing, may only be used when there is reasonable suspicion that the student is under the influence of or has recently consumed alcohol or any drug prohibited by district policy. Students testing positive will be disciplined in accordance with the district’s discipline policy and may also be excluded from extracurricular activities as determined by the district. A student who refuses to submit to testing may still be discipline under the district’s discipline code for being under the influence of alcohol and drugs.

Parent-Requested Participation

Parents of student who wish for their student to participate in the drug-testing program may voluntarily enroll the student in the district’s program when or even if the student is not involved in extracurricular activities. The student will be placed in the drug pool and noted as a voluntary participant. If selected and the test is positive, the parent will be notified of the positive test, but the student will not be penalized through this policy or the Student Discipline policy of the Sikeston R-6 School District. However, for eligibility purposes, the students who are otherwise subject to this policy, those rules or regulations supersede those of voluntary enrollment.