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| No. 227AR |
| School District of Springfield Township |
| Administrative Rule |
227-AR. Drugs, Alcohol, Steroids, Other Controlled Substances and
Drug Paraphernalia
The Springfield Township School District is concerned about the health and
safety of its students and recognizes the dangers of illegal use, consumption,
distribution, sale, possession, holding, manufacture, and/or influence
of steroids, alcohol, controlled substances or other drugs in any form
without proper medical prescription, and the possession, sale, or distribution
of drug paraphernalia. Aforementioned prohibited activities in school,
on school property, or at school-related activities will be dealt with
in the following manner.
- Suspicion or Confirmation of Illegal Use of Drugs, Alcohol,
Steroids and Other Controlled Substances
- The student under suspicion of the use of illegal substances
will be brought immediately to the medical room or other appropriate
location. The building nurse or designee will record the incident,
and the record will remain in the Category C file until the incident
has been properly reviewed. If suspected use occurs away from
school, the student shall be taken to the closest medical facility
as an emergency precaution, and the parent/guardian shall be contacted
immediately to discuss the situation. In any case, the principal
or his/ her designee shall be notified promptly.
- If an incident should occur at school or on school property,
the parent/guardian will be called promptly, informed of the
situation, and asked to take the student to the family physician
immediately for assessment of the student's condition.
- The school principal or designee will contact the parent/ guardian
and the family physician to hold a conference to review the situation.
- If the conference review determines that the suspicion is unfounded,
any record of the incident shall be destroyed by the school principal,
and the student shall be re-admitted to the normal class schedule.
- If the conference review provides confirmation that there was
use of illegal substances, this incident shall be considered grounds
for suspension or expulsion in accordance with the Student Code
of Conduct. The student may be suspended for a period of up to
ten (10) days, and may be banned from athletic or co-curricular
activities for the remainder of the season/ semester. Repeated
offenses could result in suspension from school activities for
one (1) year from the date of the offense or permanent suspension
from school activities. Suspension or expulsion will be based
upon the recommendation of the school principal, as authorized
by the Superintendent or his/her designee. Any expulsion shall
follow proper due process procedures and shall involve an action
by the Board of School Directors.
- Where an incident is confirmed or where, in the judgment of
the school administration, the incident appears to present a clear
danger to students or others, the police will be notified of the
incident, and the school administration will cooperate with the
appropriate agencies.
- The school reserves the right to require a formal written report
from the student's attending physician regarding the student's
condition and any recommended treatment. The school administration
may deny a student's re-admission to school until such report
is received. Upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, the
chief school physician shall review any medical report and shall
certify that it is appropriate to re-admit the student.
- In cases of confirmed use of any illegal substance, the student
will not be eligible to resume participation in school activities
unless there has been a medical determination by the student's
family physician that there is no residual evidence of such illegal
usage.
- Suspicion or Confirmation of Illegal Possession, Distribution,
Dealing, Sale, Holding, or Manufacture of Drugs, Alcohol, Steroids,
other Controlled Substances, and/or Drug Paraphernalia
- The student under suspicion of the above-named prohibited activities
will be brought immediately to the principal's office, and a record
of the incident will be made. Such record will remain in the Category
C file until the incident has been reviewed. If an incident should
occur away from school, the responsible administrator/faculty
member shall record the incident and report same to the principal
or his/her designee as soon as practicable.
- The parent/guardian will be contacted, informed of the situation,
and asked to report to the school immediately, if the incident
occurs at school. If an incident should occur away from school,
the responsible administrator/faculty member will contact the
parent/guardian as soon as practicable.
- Any illegal substances or paraphernalia shall be confiscated
in accordance with appropriate legal procedures. The police will
be notified. The school administration will cooperate with the
appropriate agencies.
- The school principal will conduct a conference with the parent/
guardian, police, and other appropriate agencies.
- If the conference review determines that the suspicion is unfounded,
any record of the incident shall be destroyed by the school principal,
and the student shall be re-admitted to the normal class schedule.
- If the conference review provides confirmation that there was
illegal possession, distribution, dealing, sale, holding, manufacture
of drugs, alcohol, steroids, and/or other controlled substances,
such incident shall be considered grounds for immediate suspension
for a period of up to ten (10) days or, after appropriate proceedings,
expulsion. Suspension or expulsion will be based upon the recommendation
of the school principal as authorized by the
Superintendent. All suspensions and expulsions shall be governed
by the Student Code of Conduct and shall conform to all appropriate
due process procedures.
- Systematic Suspicionless Testing
- Systematic suspicionless testing may be performed at school
dances and/or proms as determined by the High School Principal
upon consultation with the Superintendent. For purposes of this
Regulation, "systematic" means either testing of all students
or a predetermined selection of students, i.e., every 3rd, 8th,
etc.
- In advance of any functions at which systematic suspicionless
testing may be used, the Administration shall notify students
and parents in a manner reasonably calculated to promote awareness
of the nature and extent of the testing.
- Before each event, the Administration will develop a written
protocol indicating the specific manner in which tests will be
administered and establishing the specific method by which students
will be selected for testing, including where testing of fewer
than all students is performed, the ratio of students to be tested.
- The persons administering the testing will be properly trained
in the operation of the device(s) used.
- Testing may be by breathalyzer or similar non-invasive testing.
- General Requirements
- School administrative personnel shall have the authority to
conduct searches in accordance with the law.
- The School District reserves the right to require participation
in drug counseling, rehabilitation, testing, or other programs
as a condition of reinstatement into any school or school sponsored
program.
- This Administrative Rule, 227-AR, will be made a part of the
Student and Parent Consent Form which requires student and parent/guardian
review and signatures before a student can participate in athletic
or co-curricular activities.
- The prohibitions outlined above in this administrative rule
apply to visitors and guests on school property and at school-related
activities. The school principal or his/her designee will be responsible
for ensuring compliance with these prohibitions on school property
and at school-related activities by denying attendance at such
functions to any violator or anyone suspected of being in violation
of this policy.
- In cases of confirmed violations, the student will be referred
to the school's Student Assistance Program (SAP), and the student
and his/her family shall be expected to follow the referral recommendations
of the SAP team.
- To the extent practicable, testing of students pursuant to this
regulation will be done with regard to the privacy of the students
tested.
Revised and Adopted: April 19, 2005
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