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4115 Drug/Alcohol Policy


Adoption Date: 9/13/1990, Revised: 6/9/2016; 09/20/2001, 12/15/1992, 02/11/93, 12/16/1999, 02/17/2000
4000 - Personnel
4115 Drug/Alcohol Policy

The Board of Education of the Lakeland Central School District is committed to the prevention of alcohol, tobacco products and/or other substance use/abuse.  This policy describes the philosophy of the District and the program elements the Board of Education will use to promote healthy lifestyles for its students and staff and to prevent the use/abuse of alcohol, tobacco products and other substances on School District premises.

No person may use, possess, sell or distribute alcohol, tobacco products or other  substances, as specified herein, nor may s/he use or possess drug paraphernalia on School District premises, in school vehicles or at school-sponsored events, whether on or off school premises, except medications as prescribed by a physician.  The terms “alcohol and other substances, including but not limited to alcohol, tobacco products, inhalants, marijuana, cocaine, LSD, PCP, amphetamines, heroin, steroids, look-alikes, and any of those substances commonly referred to as “designer drugs”.  The inappropriate use of prescription and over-the-counter drugs shall also be prohibited.

Additionally, any person  who has consumed or used  or is in possession of or under the influence of any of the aforementioned substances shall be prohibited from entering or remaining upon School District premises or at school-sponsored events, whether on or off of school premises.

PHILOSOPHY
The District shall use the following principals as guides for the development of its substance use/abuse prevention policy and for any disciplinary measures related to alcohol and other substances:

  • Alcohol, tobacco products and other substance use/abuse is preventable and treatable.
  • Alcohol, tobacco products and other substance use/abuse inhibits the Board of Education from carrying out its central mission of educating students.
  • The behavior of the Board of Education, the administration and all school staff should model the behavior asked of students.
  • While the Board of Education will assume a leadership role in alcohol, tobacco products and other substance use/abuse prevention, this goal may be accomplished only through coordinated, collaborative efforts with parents, students, staff, and the community as a whole.

PRIMARY PREVENTION
The intent of primary prevention is to prevent the use of alcohol, tobacco products and other substance use/abuse by students.  The components of this programming shall include:

  1. A sequential K-12 prevention curriculum that provides for:

  • Accurate and age-appropriate information about alcohol, tobacco products and other substances, including the physical, psychological and social consequences of their use/abuse.
  • Information about the relationship of alcohol and other substance use/abuse to other health compromising situations such as AIDS, child abuse, suicide and dropping out of school.
  • Helping students develop appropriate life skills to resist the use of alcohol, tobacco products and other substances and to promote healthy lifestyles.
  • Helping students identify personal risk factors from alcohol, tobacco products and other substance use/abuse and the steps needed for risk reduction.
  • Helping students develop a positive self-concept.
  • Helping students identify when they are under stress and how to manage or reduce stress through non-chemical means.

2. Provide opportunity for parents and guardians to gain information necessary to reinforce the components of this policy in the home and community, thereby providing a consistent message to School District youth.
3. Positive alternatives to alcohol, tobacco products and other substance use/abuse, such as peer leadership programs, service projects and extra-curricular activities.Such activities will be planned collaboratively with students, parents and community members.

INTERVENTIONS

Students
The intent of intervention programming is to attempt to eliminate any existing use/abuse of alcohol, tobacco products and other substances, and to identify and provide supportive services to kindergarten through 12th grade students at high risk for such use/abuse.  The components of such programming shall include:

  1. Providing limited alcohol, tobacco products and other substance use/abuse assessment and counseling services for students.
  2. Developing a referral process between the School District and community providers.
  3. Attempt to identify and refer students to appropriate agencies, cessation programs and services when their use/abuse of alcohol, tobacco products and/or controlled substances requires counseling and/or treatment.
  4. Assist in coordinating the communications between student, family, school and therapist/agency, relative to the treatment process.
  5. Providing short term services to students in or returning from treatment to assist in the process of recovery initiated in the treatment program.
  6. Providing educational opportunities for parents on when and how to access the District’s intervention services.
  7. Confidentiality: The intent of the Board of Education is to work with parents to maintain the health and safety of their children.Therefore, parents will be informed of use/abuse of alcohol, tobacco products and/or other substances of their children, unless prohibited by law.

Employees
The District shall provide information to employees about available drug, tobacco products and alcohol counseling, rehabilitation and re-entry programs.

STAFF DEVELOPMENT
The Board of Education recognizes that if the administrative and instructional staff are to be responsible for implementing and modeling this policy during the school day, they should be encouraged to gain an understanding of an effective alcohol, tobacco products and other substance prevention program.  Staff training should be an on-going process.  The Board of Education will encourage the administrative and instructional staff to develop skills appropriate to the implementation of this policy.

IMPLEMENTATION, DISSEMINATION AND MONITORING
The Board of Education charges the Superintendent with the responsibility to coordinate School District staff, parents, students and community members in developing the specific programs and strategies necessary to implement this policy.

Upon adoption, copies of this policy will be made available to all District staff, students and parents.

The Superintendent is responsible for providing the Board with periodic reviews of this policy and his/her recommendation for revisions in this policy.

DISCIPLINARY ACTION

Students
Students found to be in violation of this Policy shall be subject to disciplinary action in accordance with the policies of the Board of Education, the regulations of the District and the Code of  Conduct.  The student’s disciplinary records will note the cause and duration of any disciplinary action resulting from a violation of this Policy.  Students who are disciplined for violation of this Policy will also be referred to the intervention services established by this policy.

Employees
Employees found to be in violation of this Policy shall be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination from employment and referral for prosecution, in accordance with law and applicable collectively negotiated agreements.

Policy Cross References:
 5131.6 - Drug/Alcohol Policy