See Dresden School Board Policy JICH
Adopted:
Dresden, 22 August 1989
The Dresden School Board recognizes that abuse of alcohol and other drugs is a treatable health problem which at times involves conditions and violations of law, and that involvement with alcohol and other drugs can interfere with a student’s academic, physical, emotional, and social development. Further, the Board recognizes that the schools as well as families and the community at large have a responsibility to this important matter. Accordingly, the Dresden School Board makes a commitment to the health and well being of its students through age-appropriate programs and procedures and to an environment free from alcohol and other drugs.
The Board acknowledges the following school roles:
1. Educating students about alcohol and other drugs;
2. Responding supportively to those whose use of alcohol and/or other drugs interferes with school performance;
3. Promoting a climate in which students can seek help if they are in distress from their own or others’ use of alcohol and other drugs;
4. Helping students recovering from dependency on alcohol and/or other drugs;
5. Developing and implementing guidelines and sanctions in each school which
a. define violations and their consequences, both disciplinary and supportive;
b. define immediate procedures for handling incidents;
c. describe a support and referral system which includes response to self-referrals and suspected users, and
d. are clear and articulated to staff, parents and students.
6. Training all personnel in school guidelines related to alcohol and other drugs;
7. Ensuring no less than a biannual evaluation of the above efforts.
Alcohol and Other Prohibited Drugs Procedure
In accordance with the Dresden School District Policy, Hanover High School makes a commitment to the health and well-being of its students. Only in an environment that is free of alcohol and other drugs can students reach their potential in academics and extracurricular activities. Hanover High School will create a climate in which students can seek help concerning their own use or another’s use of alcohol and other drugs. Each individual in the community has a responsibility to herself/himself and to others to keep Hanover High School an environment free of alcohol and other drugs.
Guidelines, Procedures, Support & Referral System
1. Definitions
This policy refers to alcohol, non-prescribed restricted drugs, and illegal drugs.
2. Support and Referral System
Student Assistance Team: The Student Assistance Team responds to referrals from the administration, from staff, and from students. All referrals are confidential.
Membership: The team is a subcommittee of the Pupil Services Team and consists of a student assistance counselor, guidance counselor, and school nurse. Within the legal confines of confidentiality, the team may include student members. Team members have special training in substance use/abuse. The team does not label or diagnose.
The role of the team is to:
a. Receive data (reports from teachers, counselors, administrators, other school employees);
b. Assess
- whether a student’s involvement with substances is affecting his/her school performance or behavior;
- whether the involvement is experimental or chronic;
- whether the student is affected by a family member’s substance use.
c. Determine whether there is sufficient information to develop an action plan or whether the situation should be monitored;
d. Assist with in-school interventions if indicated;
e. Participate in referrals to community agencies for further assessment/treatment.
f. Support students returning to school from inpatient treatment facilities.
g. Make recommendations and advocate on a student’s behalf with the administration.
3. Procedures
The administration follows up all alcohol and drug violations with a referral to the Student Assistance Team.
a. The team keeps written records of all referrals. These records are confidential and privileged.
b. The team reviews the circumstances of the violation and determines whether a meeting with the student is appropriate and who should be involved.
c. The team may recommend that a student meet with a team member for education and evaluation. This is similar to the procedure outlined in the Athletic Training Rules and may be required in addition to administrative consequences such as a suspension or schedule-up.
d. The team may refer a student for further assessment/evaluation to a community agency or to a certified alcohol counselor. Whenever possible, the team works with the parents when further assessment or treatment is indicated.
e. In cases of repeat offenses, the team may recommend to the administration that outside assessment be requested in addition to the administrative consequences imposed.
f. When there is clear evidence that a student is becoming a danger to self or to others because of his/her substance use, the Student Assistance Team has an obligation to notify the parents. Whenever possible, this is done in conjunction with the student.
4. Suspected Use
Any member of the school community concerned that a student is harmfully involved with alcohol or other drugs can make a referral to the Student Assistance Team. All referrals are confidential.
5. Self-referral
When a student recognizes that he/she has a problem with alcohol and/or with other drugs and chooses to do something about this problem, the school will cooperate as fully as possible with the students. No disciplinary sanctions will be imposed provided the following conditions are met:
There is no immediate or apparent threat of harm to self or to others.
The student is self-referred and not “caught” in violation of school or legal policies.
A student under the influence of alcohol and/or other drugs will be allowed one opportunity to self-refer to a guidance counselor or nurse without disciplinary sanctions.
6. Students in Recovery
Students who go into treatment will be encouraged to remain enrolled in school. The school is not financially responsible for a student’s education while he/she is in treatment. The student’s guidance counselor will:
Obtain written releases to discuss an educational plan with the appropriate person at the treatment facility.
When appropriate, ensure that the student receives the necessary assignments and materials.
Ensure, when appropriate, that the student receives credit for education efforts made while in treatment.
Obtain written releases to discuss aftercare plans and how to support a student’s decision not to use.
7. Cooperative Agreement with Treatment Agencies/Providers
The District will work to establish a written referral agreement with a New Hampshire and a Vermont treatment agency. Contacts with other providers will also be made as needed. The agreement will specify referral and intake procedures, financial obligations of parents and the school, confidentiality of information, etc.
Violations and Consequences
These regulations apply whenever school is in session and when students are engaged in school- sanctioned activities on school property or on other sites.
Violations
A student is considered in violation of the school district’s policy on alcohol and other drugs if he/she is:
In possession of alcohol or drugs;
In possession of paraphernalia associated reasonably with illegal drug use.
Distributing alcohol or drugs;
Selling alcohol or drugs;
Under the influence of alcohol or drugs;
In the act of using alcohol or drugs;
Knowingly in the presence of students in the act of possessing, distributing, selling, or using alcohol or drugs, except when it is clear that the student’s presence is for the purpose of intervening for safety reasons or against another’s use of alcohol and/or other drugs.
Consequences for Violations
1. Selling (attempted or actual):
Suspension up to ten school days.
Notification of police.
Notification of parents or guardians.
Notification of Superintendent - possible expulsion
Schedule-up for the remainder of the school year
Referral to the Student Assistance Team.
2. Possession of alcohol or drugs, using, consuming, distributing (not for sale), or under the influence of drugs or alcohol:
Suspension of up to five school days.
Notification of police.
Notification of parents or guardians.
Schedule-up for the remainder of the school year. (Note: An underclass student may be scheduled-up into the next school year if the infraction is near the end of the year.)
Referral to the Student Assistance Team.
3. Being knowingly in the presence of drugs or alcohol, but not involved with any of the above infractions:
Schedule-up for 15 days
Notification of parents or guardians.
Referral to the Student Assistance Team
4. Items (e.g. tools, paraphernalia) that can be associated reasonably with illegal drug use, but which show no evidence of drugs having been used, will be confiscated. The student in possession will be referred to the Student Assistance Team. Parents will be notified.
Procedures for Handling Incidents
All personnel are required to report actual or suspected incidents of possessing, distributing, using or consuming to the Principal, or his/her designee, i.e. the adult in charge. The identified student might be required to answer questions and/or undergo an evaluation to determine whether or not substances have been consumed or further action is necessary.