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JICH-R Student Drug Use

Students are prohibited from attending school or school functions after having consumed or while under the influence of any unauthorized mood altering chemical. They are prohibited from possessing, furnishing, or consuming tobacco, alcohol or illicit drugs while in school or on school grounds, or at school functions, or on a school bus.

Students who violate the above rule shall be considered involved with tobacco, drugs and/or alcohol in a potentially harmful way and shall be automatically referred through the following procedure:

A. On the first offense:

  1. The appropriate administrator will notify the parent/guardian of the student involvement. The student will be given in-school suspension, if available, for up to 10 days. If in-school suspension is not available, the student will be suspended from school for up to 10 days. Students who are deemed to be under the influence of any illegal substances will first be evaluated by the nurse or the administrator if the incident occurs after school hours and then released to the parents. If their condition is deemed serious, an ambulance will be called. If not, the parent/guardian will be responsible for arranging transportation home. If parents or a relative cannot be reached, the individual will be turned over to the police department for protective custody. The student will be placed on social probation for 40 school days. (Social probation is defined as not being allowed to take part in or attend activities beyond the academic classroom.) On returning to regular classes after in-school suspension or suspension, the student shall be referred to his/her appropriate school guidance counselor to determine the general nature of the individual's emotional, mental, and social health. The student will have a clinical assessment by the school social worker, school psychological services provider, or an outside consultant. This report will be part of the youth's confidential file kept with the guidance office. Students must participate in this clinical assessment. Once the student completes the assessment, the student and his/her parent(s)/guardian(s) and his/her counselor will review the results of the entire assessment and establish a plan of action. The plan of action will include the following: Setting up a written contract with him/her concerning the use or abuse of tobacco, alcohol and/or drugs, and list of dates for planned outside counseling sessions, and periodic visits to the school's social worker. The counselor will arrange a follow-up conference with the student.

B. On the second offense:

  1. The appropriate administrator will notify the parent/guardian of the student involvement. The student will be given in-school suspension or suspension. Parents/guardians are responsible for transporting their student home if the student is suspended. In-school suspension or suspension will continue until he/she has been evaluated by a substance abuse counselor and treatment recommendations have been made by a community-based outside source. If the evaluation cannot be completed before the termination of the in-school suspension or suspension period, a meeting of parents, student, and school authorities will be held to determine the most acceptable course of action. After being reviewed and accepted by appropriate school personnel, these treatment recommendations must be followed in order that the young person remains in school. The student will be placed on social probation for the remainder of the school year. (Social probation is defined as not being allowed to take part or attend activities beyond the academic classroom.)

  2. Additional informational from the student's individual teachers will be gathered by the appropriate guidance counselor to verify the student's academic progress and to determine if any additional support is needed. The school may collaborate with an outside agency whose professional mission is to consult with teachers, counselors, and administrators on effective ways to identify and support students with substance abuse issues.

C. On the third or subsequent offense:

  1. The student will automatically be suspended by the principal pending an expulsion hearing by the board. Re-entry to school will be contingent upon satisfactory evidence of successful completion of treatment recommendations as verified by the treatment agency and the school counselor and principal. The student must give some indication that the behavior which was the cause of the student being expelled will not recur. The student will be placed on social probation for one year. Only the Board can re-enroll an expelled student upon satisfying treatment plan conditions with Superintendent's recommendation for re-admittance.

D. Miscellaneous points:

  1. All cases of possession, sale, or transfer of illegal drugs, alcohol, and/or unauthorized mood altering chemicals will be reported to the appropriate law enforcement agency. All alcohol, drugs, unauthorized mood altering chemicals, and related paraphernalia confiscated will be turned over to the appropriate law enforcement agency.
  1. Students suspected of drug/alcohol use will be referred to school counselors for preliminary assessment without disciplinary repercussions.

  1. The time frame for the first, second, and third offenses is while the student is currently enrolled in the RSU1 school system and shall be documented as an incident report in the student's health record.

  2. When a student breaks social probation, the student shall be suspended up to five (5) school days.

  3. A clinical meeting will be held for any student requiring in-patient treatment to recommend tutoring while the student is in treatment. To help re-entry to the school community, the appropriate support group will be identified with well-articulated interventions.

  4. It is understood that all information gathered in the assessment and self- referral process will be treated in a confidential manner adhering to practical and legal considerations. Bath Middle School, Woolwich Middle School, and Morse High School will establish Substance Abuse Review Committees and involve appropriate community agencies and providers as needed. The principal will develop this team.

Legal Reference: 21 USC § 812 (Controlled Substances Act)

21 CFR Part 1300.11-15

P.L. 101-226 (Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act Amendments of 1989)

17-A MRSA § 1101

42 USC § 290dd-2

42 CFR § 2.1 et seq.

20-A MRSA §§ 1001(9); 4008

First Reading: January 20, 2009

Adopted: March 16, 2009

Revised: August 16, 2010

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