Policy JICH-R- Drug and Alcohol Use by Students
Use
Students who are or appear to be under the influence of alcohol, narcotics or other dangerous or illegal chemical substances on school property or at school-sanctioned activities or while being transported in school district vehicles will be dealt with in the following manner:
1. If a student appears to be displaying unusual behavior possibly due to the use of some dangerous or illegal substance, a staff member should escort the student to the school nurse who will determine the seriousness of the situation.
a. Should the situation occur in the classroom and the student's behavior indicates that the student is unable to proceed safely to the nurse's office, assistance should be summoned from the principal or persons so designated by the principal to be in charge of such matters.
b. Should the situation occur outside of the classroom in any location where the school might have jurisdiction, a staff member should escort the student to the school nurse.
c. If the school nurse is not in the building, standard emergency procedures should be followed by designated personnel.
d. Staff members who have observed the display of unusual behavior should describe it briefly in writing, giving the date, time and place that it occurred. Such documents will be filed with the principal.
2. The principal or designee will contact the student's parents or guardian (or person so designated on the emergency card) and advise them that the student is displaying unusual or dangerous behavior. The principal or designee will describe the behavior to the parents but will not attempt to diagnose the student's condition.
3. If the medical situation warrants and aid is required and if home contact cannot be made, the principal or designee will call 911 for assistance. While waiting for parents or further medical aid, the student should not be left alone but should be placed in a quiet situation where the student will remain under observation.
4. Whether or not the student requires immediate medical attention, the principal or designee, in addition to contacting parents or guardian, will follow the procedures of due process. He will:
a. Discuss the situation with the student to identify possible legitimate medical problems as a cause for behavior, if the student's condition will allow.
b. Confer with the Denver Police Department and the DPS Safety and Security Department.
Disciplinary action for use
If after investigation, the principal is convinced that the student is/was using or is/was under the influence of alcohol, narcotics or other dangerous or illegal chemical substances, Policy JK and JK-R (Student Discipline) shall control disciplinary action related to the incident(s). The followingactions shall be taken:
The principal or designee will confer with the parent or guardian and the student. The principal or designeee shall:
a. Review the disciplinary options available;
b. Refer the student as appropriate to a staff member (e.g., social worker, counselor, student advisor) or community assistance agency (e.g., family counseling service, drug treatment program, alcohol detoxification center). The referral will be followed up with any other necessary action that the situation warrants;
c. Develop a contract in writing with the parents and the student that will outline responsibilities of the parent, the student and the school in an effort to keep any further offenses from occurring. In addition the contract will specify constructive activities for the student during the period of suspension, if applicable, and specify a referral agency;
Possession or distribution
Students who possess or are engaged in selling, giving or exchanging alcohol, narcotics or other dangerous or illegal chemical substances or drug-containing paraphernalia on school property or at school-sanctioned activities or while being transported in school district vehicles will be treated in the following manner:
1. The first school staff member to come in contact with the evidence and/or contraband should document the facts of obtaining the evidence and/or contraband. Documentation should include whether the evidence and/or contraband was found in the student's possession. If so, the student's name and other pertinent information, location where the evidence and/or contraband was discovered, and a brief summary of the facts surrounding the case should be included.
2. The staff member who obtains the evidence or contraband should take it immediately to the principal or designee.
3. The principal or designee then should place the evidence and/or contraband in an envelope or suitable container that can be sealed. The envelope should be sealed and initialed by both the staff member who originally obtained the materials and the principal or designee. A list of the contraband will be placed in a separate envelope, sealed and filed separately.
4. The principal or designee shall notify the Denver Police Department or if one is assigned, the DPD School Resource Officer and the DPS Safety and Security Depatment and request that an officer take custody of the evidence and/or contraband. This envelope should be handed to the police officer personally by the principal or designee Drug and alcohol contraband should not be retained by the school. 5. Students will be detained for the Denver Police Department for the purpose of determining further appropriate action. 6. The principal or designee will contact the parents or guardian.
Disciplinary action for possession or distribution
Policy JK and JK-R (Student Discipline) shall control disciplinary action related to the incident(s). Upon notification by the appropriate law enforcement agency that the evidence and/or contraband contains narcotics or other dangerous or illegal chemical sub-stances or if possession of alcohol or drug-containing paraphernalia is involved, the principal or designee will complete the investigation.
If the principal is convinced that the student was in possession of alcohol,
narcotics or other dangerous drugs or illegal chemical substances or drug-containing paraphernalia in violation of district policy, disciplinary action consistent with Policy JK and JK-R shall be taken. In addition, the following actions shall be taken:
a. The student will be referred as appropriate to a staff member (e.g., social worker, counselor, student advisor) or community assistance agency (e.g., family counseling service, drug treatment program, alcohol detoxification program). The referral will be followed up with other necessary action that the situation warrants.
b. The appropriate instructional superintendent should be notified as soon as possible.
c. Develop a contract in writing with the parents and the student that will outline responsibilities of the parent, the student and the school in an effort to keep any further offenses from occurring. In addition the contract will specify constructive activities for the student during the period of suspension, if applicable, and specify a referral agency.
Mandatory initiation of expulsion proceeding according to Board policy, when applicable on Policy JK and JK-R, will be initiated in clearly substantiated cases.
Revised October 15, 2009
CROSS REFS.: JIH, Student Interrogations, Searches and Arrests
JKD/JKE, Suspension/Expulsion of Students
KFA, Public Conduct on School Property
CROSS REFS.: JIH, Student Interrogations, Searches and Arrests
JKD/JKE, Suspension/Expulsion of Students
KFA, Public Conduct on School Property