Alcohol and Drugs Policy

Sacred Heart School has been designated as a Drug Free Zone. Alcohol cannot be in the student’s vehicle, brought onto or consumed on campus during, before or after school hours. There are additional legal penalties for bringing or consuming any illegal drug on campus. This law applies to parents, students and visitors alike.
 
Any parent who sponsors, promotes, hosts, encourages or chaperones a party which allows alcohol or drug use by minors are in direct violation of the civil law and breach their contract with our school and jeopardize their child(ren)’s continued enrollment at Sacred Heart School.
 
Sacred Heart students are subject to various types of tests for the use of alcohol and/or other drugs before admittance to, during and after various school activities. A student who violates the above policy will receive a 3-day, out-of-school suspension.
 
TOBACCO PRODUCTS
                                              
Students will not be allowed to smoke, chew, or consume any tobacco product at any time during the school day or at extracurricular functions. Students may not carry or have in their possession or in their personal belongings any containers, matches, lighters or other paraphernalia associated with the use of tobacco products. Possession of any tobacco product will result in a one-day suspension.
 
TESTING FOR ALCOHOL AND ILLEGAL SUBSTANCES
 
At the beginning of the school year, each student (grades 6 – 12) and at least one parent or legal guardian will sign an acknowledgement of the drug testing policy and agree to be tested for illegal substances and alcohol as provided for in the policy. A student will be denied permission to attend class until the permission slip is properly signed each year.
A student attending a school function on campus or away from campus may be tested for alcohol using a breathalyzer device if a faculty member, school sponsor or parent volunteer has reasonable suspicion of consumption of alcohol.
Testing for illegal substances will be done at school on a random basis and/or on the basis of reasonable suspicion by a comprehensive drug testing company. The representative may conduct the random tests by obtaining urine samples from students. In the event a student is unable to produce a urine sample, the company representative may collect a hair sample from the student.
 
I. IMPLEMENTATION: Testing and reporting of results will be conducted as follows:

• Specimens will be collected by a collection agency(ies), laboratory or hospital.
• Steps will be taken to ensure accurate tests.
• Analysis of the specimens will be done by a certified evaluating agency.
• Results of testing will be reported to the respective Administrator.
• Parents will receive all results.
• Students testing positive will be subject to procedures set forth by the Administration.

 
II. PROCEDURES FOR POSITIVE RESULTS

• FIRST POSITIVE – The Administration will hold a meeting with the parent/guardian and student within three days of receiving results. The student will have a 3-day, out-of-school suspension. He/She must enter and successfully complete an outpatient substance abuse program at the parent/guardian’s expense. Parents/Guardians must sign to release the information from the agency to the school. Retesting may be required at any given time at the parent/guardian’s expense for a period of one calendar year. After that, the student may be subject to random testing.

 

• SECOND POSITIVE – The Administration will hold a meeting with the parent/guardian and student within three days of receiving results. The student will have a 3-day, out-of-school suspension and must again enter and successfully complete an outpatient substance abuse program at the parent/guardian’s expense. Parents/Guardians must sign to release the information from the agency to the school. The student will be removed and denied participation in all extra-curricular activities and school sponsored activities for one calendar year. He/She will not be eligible for any awards or honors for that school year.

 

• THIRD POSITIVE – EXPULSION

*** Any urine/hair sample that is reported adulterated by the drug testing vendor will be considered positive.
 
DRUG POLICY/PROCEDURE GUIDELINES
 
A licensed substance abuse counselor

• Students will be randomly tested through Secon, the service agency used for all testing.

 

• The Administration receives the test results from Secon.
• The Administration contacts the parents/guardians whose child has tested positive. If the parent/guardian can verify that the positive test is resulting from prescription medication, SHS will be satisfied with a statement in writing from a Medical Doctor.

 

• Parents/Guardians who cannot satisfactorily validate the child’s positive drug test will be told to contact a licensed substance abuse counselor within seven days of notification from the school Administrator.

 

• The licensed substance abuse counselor may schedule two (2) appointments with the parent(s)/guardian(s) and student.

 

• Parents/Guardians will be asked to contact the licensed counselor within (5) five days to inform him/her of their decision for treatment.

 

• Once the parent(s)/guardian(s) have contacted the counselor, it will be the parent/guardians’ responsibility to follow through with treatment.

 

• The counselor will contact the school Administrator to inform her of the results and mode of treatment the parent(s)/guardian(s) have chosen.

 

• It will be the parent/guardians’ responsibility to inform the counselor when treatment is complete. They are then to send the counselor a Notice of Completion by the Substance Abuse Counselor of Treatment Center.

 

• Once the counselor has received the information in writing, he/she will then contact the school Administrator notifying her that the student has completed the recommended course of treatment.

 

• If the parents/guardians do not contact the licensed counselor within (30) thirty days of treatment, the counselor will contact the school Administrator.

 

• All releases will be acquired by the licensed counselor.
• Client/Student records will be kept confidential by the counselor.
• Parents/Guardians will pay the appropriate fees to the counselor.
• Adjustments or amendments to this policy/procedure can only be made with written approval by the licensed counselor, the Administration and the Sacred Heart Advisory Council.

 
POLICY FOR POSSESSION OF ILLEGAL DRUGS AND DRUG PARAPHERNALIA
 
A student found to have on his possession, and/or in his possession illegal drugs and/or drug paraphernalia at school or any school function, on or off campus, will be expelled.
 
A student found to have on his possession, and/or in his possession alcohol at school or any school function, on or off campus, will be given a 3-day, out-of-school suspension.