Board Policy 5530 – Click here for District’s Policies Manual
The Board of Education recognizes that a pupil’s abuse of harmful substances seriously impedes that pupil’s education and threatens the welfare of the entire school community. The Board is committed to the prevention of substance abuse and the rehabilitation of substance abusers by educational means, but will take necessary and appropriate steps to protect the school community from harm and from exposure to harmful substances. Accordingly, the Board will establish and maintain a comprehensive substance abuse intervention, prevention, and treatment referral program in the schools of this district.
For the purposes of this policy:
“Substance” means alcoholic beverages, controlled and uncontrolled substances, including anabolic steroids, as defined at N.J.S.A. 24:21-2 and N.J.A.C. 2C:35-2, any chemical or chemical compound which releases vapors or fumes causing a condition of intoxication, inebriation, excitement, stupefaction, or dulling of the brain or nervous system, including, but not limited to, glue containing a solvent having the property of releasing toxic vapors or fumes as defined at N.J.S.A. 2C:35-10.4, and over-the-counter and prescription medications which are improperly used to cause intoxication, inebriation, excitement, stupefaction, or dulling of the brain or nervous system.
“Substance abuse” means the consumption or use of any substance for purposes other than for the treatment of sickness or injury as prescribed or administered by a person duly authorized by law to treat sick and injured human beings.
Please visit the district’s policy manual to read the full policy.
Substance Abuse – Discipline Procedures
Use of alcohol/drug/anabolic steroids and/or possession and/or refusal to submit to drug screening or tampering with the drug screening sample.
- First Offense:
- Minimum of two (2) days out-of-school suspension and five (5) days of in-school suspension up to a maximum of ten (10) days out-of-school suspension.
- 14 calendar days of no sports, clubs or activities following the completion of the suspension.
- Permanent loss of parking privileges
- Minimum of 5 counseling sessions with the Student Assistance Counselor and 5 prevention/education groups
- Must obtain substance abuse evaluation from an approved licensed facility and follow through with evaluation recommendations.
- Referral to law enforcement
- Second Offense:
- Minimum of four (4) days out-of-school suspension and six (6) days of in-school suspension up to a maximum of ten (10) days out-of-school suspension.
- 30 calendar days of no sports, clubs or activities following the completion of the suspension. Removal from any sport, club or activity leadership positions.
- Minimum of 5 counseling sessions with the Student Assistance Counselor and 5 prevention/education groups
- Must obtain substance abuse evaluation from an approved licensed facility and follow through with evaluation recommendations.
- Referral to law enforcement
- Third Offense:
- Students will be automatically suspended and a meeting scheduled before the Superintendent and/or Board of Education to determine placement options for the student. Referral to law enforcement.
Note: The Principal (or designee) will convene a staffing for the purpose of determining a plan of action in dealing with the student. The staffing shall involve the SAC, the student’s Guidance Counselor, administrative and teaching staff as necessary, human service agencies as appropriate, and Child Study Team members as required. Recognizing the importance of parental intervention and cooperation with the school, the Principal shall invite parents/guardians to the staffing. Following all staffing meetings at which parents/guardians are not present, the Principal shall inform parents/guardians of the conclusions.
In attempting to maintain a substance free school, students returning to school following a suspension for a substance offense must provide medical certification that they are physically and mentally capable of returning to school. As noted above, this may include urine testing. Other conditions for returning to school including, but not limited to, required counseling, may be established by the Principal in cooperation with the parents/guardians, human service agencies and law enforcement officials.
For any offense involving possession, distribution or sale of alcohol or other controlled dangerous substance, the student will:
- Be immediately referred to law enforcement officials for appropriate action (per the Model Agreement between Education and Law Enforcement. July 15, 1997).
- Be immediately suspended and automatically scheduled for an expulsion hearing before the Board which may result in expulsion.
Re-entry
In attempting to maintain a “substance free” school, students returning to school following a suspension for a substance offense must provide medical certification that the student’s substance abuse no longer interferes with the student’s physical and mental ability to perform in school. As noted above, this will include a negative substance use screen as defined by NJ state or federal guidelines or upon the recommendation of a Board approved Medical Review Officer. Other conditions for returning to school (such as staffing and required counseling) may be established by the Principal in cooperation with the parents/guardians, human service agencies and law enforcement officials.
The Principal (or designee) will convene a staffing meeting for the purpose of determining a plan of action in dealing with students. The staffing meeting may involve the Student Assistance Counselor, the student’s Guidance Counselor, administrative and teaching staff as necessary, human service agencies as appropriate, and Child Study Team members as required. Recognizing the importance of parental intervention and cooperation with the school, the Principal shall invite parents/guardians to the staffing meeting. Following all staffing meetings, at which parents/guardians are not present, the Principal shall inform parents/guardians of the conclusions.
