CODE
F7
(Mandatory)[1]
POLICY: STUDENT
ALCOHOL
It is the policy of the _________________ School District
that no student shall knowingly possess, use, sell, give or otherwise transmit,
or be under the influence of any illegal drug, regulated substance, or alcohol
on any school property, or at any school sponsored activity away from or within
the school. It is further the policy of
the district to make appropriate referrals in cases of substance abuse.
Definitions
Substance Abuse is the
ingestion of drugs and or alcohol in such a way that it interferes with a
person’s ability to perform physically, intellectually, emotionally, or
socially.[2]
Drug
means any narcotic drug, hallucinogenic drug,
amphetamine, barbiturate, marijuana or any other controlled substance as
defined by state or federal regulation or statute.[3]
1.
Educational
Program. The Principal shall work with appropriate
staff members to develop and conduct an alcohol and drug abuse educational
program on a sequential basis from early childhood through grade 12 as required
by Vermont law.[4]
The program shall be consistent with the Vermont Alcohol and Drug Education
Curriculum Plan[5]. If the school district is a recipient of
federal Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act[6] funds, the Act will be
considered in the development of the alcohol and drug abuse educational
program.
2.
Cooperative
Agreements.[7]
In dealing with substance abuse cases, every effort will
be made to promote responsible decision-making by the student involved and
other students who are aware of another student’s use or abuse. The focus will
be to encourage appropriate medical and/or psychological intervention by
trained professionals. The Principal shall annually designate a member of the
substance abuse team to be responsible for providing information to students
and parents or guardians about outside agencies that provide substance abuse
prevention services and to encourage the use of their services and programs
when appropriate.
The _________School
District, under a cooperative agreement with ______ [AGENCY] ________, has
established a Student Assistance Program. Students, under the age of eighteen,
who have been referred or who refer themselves to the Student Assistance
Program counselor may be seen individually by the counselor for purposes of
substance abuse screening and consultation. It will be the goal of the Student
Assistance Program to encourage the student to involve his/her parents or
guardians at the earliest point in time.
3.
Referral
and Consent. Parental consent will not be required for
student participation in group programs conducted within the schools that are
educational in nature and designed to impart information and/or assist students
in improving their sense of self-esteem. Such groups may be conducted only by
trained professionals contracted by the schools to perform such service or by
trained school staff who have been approved by the school administration to
conduct such groups.[8] Nor is parental consent required for referral
to an outside substance abuse treatment program when a student who is twelve
years of age or older is suspected of substance dependency, verified to have
that dependency by a physician, and gives her or her own consent for treatment.[9]
4. Substance Abuse Team. In
each school the principal shall form a Substance Abuse Team which shall screen
students who refer themselves and students who are referred by staff for
suspected drug and/or alcohol use and/or abuse problems. The team will
determine the need for further screening, education, counseling or referral for
treatment in each case referred to it[10] In addition, the principal
shall establish procedures for administering emergency first aid related to
alcohol and drug abuse for the team to follow.[11]
5. Staff Training. The
principal will work with appropriate staff to provide training necessary to
ensure that teachers and health and guidance personnel are prepared to
competently teach or provide other services required in the school’s alcohol
and drug abuse prevention education program. Training will be designed to meet
the requirements of State Board Rule.[12] The training will include a component
explaining procedures that require immediate notification of the school
administration by school staff of any violation of law, including the illegal
possession or distribution of drugs or alcohol.[13]
6.
Community
Involvement. The principal will work with school staff and
community members to design and implement a program to inform the community
about substance abuse issues and the programs and supports provided by the
school to educate students about the dangers of alcohol and drug abuse and to
assist students who are abusing alcohol or drugs.[14]
7.
Annual
Report. In a standard format provided by the Vermont
Department of Education, the principal or his or her designee will submit an
annual report to the Commissioner of Education describing substance abuse
education programs and their effectiveness.[15]
8.
Notification.
The principal shall ensure that parents and students are given copies of the standards of conduct
and disciplinary sanctions contained in the procedures related to this policy,
and are notified that compliance with the standards of conduct is
mandatory. Notice to students will, at a
minimum, be provided through inclusion of these standards and sanctions in the
student handbook distributed to all students at the beginning of each school
year or when a student enrolls in the school.[16]
[1] This policy is required by 16 V.S.A. 1165(c) and SBE Rule 4212. The State Board rule requires that the policy include the elements contained in this model.
[2]
[3] See definitions in 18 V.S.A. §4201; 41 U.S.C. §706(3); 21 U.S.C. §812.
[4] 16 V.S.A. §131(9).
[5]
SBE Rule 4212.2 requiring that education
program be consistent with this Plan.
[6] 20 U.S.C. §§7101 et seq.
[7] SBE Rule 4212.3.
[8] This paragraph is recommended, but not required.
[9] 18 V.S.A. §4226.
[10] SBE Rule 4212.3D.
[11] SBE Rule 4212.3B.
[12]SBE Rule 4213.2.
[13] SBE Rule 4212.3C
[14] SBE Rule 4214 does not require this paragraph be included in the policy, though it does require that schools engage in community programs. This paragraph could be included in a procedure instead.
[15] SBE Rule 4215 does not require this paragraph be included in the policy, though it does require that the school’s annual report include information on substance abuse education programs. This paragraph could be included in a procedure instead.
[16] Section not required by statute, but recommended.
*Note: SBE Rule 4212.3B requires that each “…school
district policy…establish procedures for administering first aid related to
alcohol and drug abuse. The procedures
will define the roles of the personnel involved.”
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Date Warned: |
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Date Adopted: |
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Legal Reference(s): |
20 U.S.C. §§7101 et seq. (Safe & Drug-Free
Schools & Communities Act of 1994) |
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16 V.S.A. §909 (Drug & Alcohol Abuse Prevention
Education Curriculum) 16 V.S.A. 131(9) (Comprehensive Health Education) |
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16 V.S.A. §1045(b)(Driver Training Course) |
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16 V.S.A. §1165 (Alcohol and drug abuse) |
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18 V.S.A. §4226 (Drugs: minors, treatment, consent) |
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Vt. State Board of Education Manual of Rules and
Practices §§4200 -4215) |
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Cross Reference: |
Student Conduct and Discipline (F1) |
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Search and Seizure (F3) |
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Interrogations or Searches of Students by Law
Enforcement) |
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Officers or Other Non-School Personnel (F5) |