JFCH / JFCI - Drug and Alcohol Use by Students

Alcohol and other drug usage (controlled* and unauthorized) present serious threats to the fabric of our society today.  Each student, through education and counseling, must realize these substances are extremely dangerous to one’s health and well being.  They should be avoided entirely by students who respect and care about themselves. 

Accordingly, alcohol and other drugs (controlled* and unauthorized) are prohibited in all school buildings and premises, in vehicles on school grounds, on all buses and/or bus routes, and during any school sponsored activities.  Students who bring prescribed medications to school must keep these medications in the nurse’s office at all times.  The school nurse will make appropriate arrangements for students who take medications when these students will be attending school activities/field trips during the school day. 

When students are found to be in possession and/or under the influence of alcohol and/or other drugs (controlled* and unauthorized), or are found to have distributed same in any manner to other persons in a school building, on school premises, in vehicles on school grounds, on buses and/or bus routes, and/or during any school sponsored activities, the matter will be immediately turned over to local law enforcement authorities for action. 

Students who are found to be in possession and/or under the influence of alcohol and/or other drugs (controlled* and unauthorized) in a school building, on school premises, in vehicles on school grounds, on buses and/or bus routes, and/or during any school sponsored activities will be suspended from school for a period of up to ten (10) school days for the first offense.  Students who are found to possess, have under their control, purchase, transport, or be under the influence of alcohol and/or other drugs (controlled* and unauthorized) in a school building, on school premises, in vehicles on school grounds, on buses and/or bus routes, and/or during any school sponsored activities may have the ten day suspension reduced to five (5) days if they will agree to participate in our Student Assistance Program for a minimum of five individual and/or group sessions. Subsequent offenses and/or abuses which constitute gross misconduct will be referred to the Superintendent of Schools for possible long term suspension (more than ten days), or to the School Board for possible expulsion from school.  The student will not be allowed to participate in any school sponsored activities for twenty (20) days.  This twenty (20) day suspension will be reduced to then (10) days if the student agrees to participate in our Student Assistance Program (SAP) for a minimum of five individual and/or group sessions.  If a student misses (unexcused) an SAP counseling session, the student will be suspended from all school sponsored activities for forty (40) days. Students who are found selling, giving, or distributing alcohol and/or drugs (controlled* and unauthorized) in a school building, on school promises, in vehicles on school grounds, on buses and/or bus routes, and /or during any school sponsored activities will be referred to the Superintendent of Schools for possible long term suspension (more than ten days), or to the School Board for possible expulsion from school.
 
Students who are found to be in possession of drug paraphernalia in a school building, on school premises, in vehicles on school grounds, on buses and/or bus routes, and/or during any school sponsored activities will be subject to the same consequences listed above.  All paraphernalia confiscated will be turned over to the police for testing and evaluation.  Legal action will be pursued. 

It is the general policy of the school district to help students who have an alcohol and/or other drug problem. Students are encouraged to seek the assistance of the guidance personnel who, in turn, will try to develop a rehabilitation program for the individual students using all available local and state agencies and resources.
 
ALCOHOL/CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE/DRUGS/MEDICATION ABUSE PRODEDURE 

The procedures listed in this section are meant to be applied to all instances of alcohol, controlled*, other unauthorized drug, and medication abuse cases (collectively referred to from here on as (“substance abuse”) involving students. 
Any instance of suspected abuse shall be immediately reported to the school health officials and administration.  The school nurse, in consultation with administration, will do an initial “health assessment” to determine whether the student could be under the influence of alcohol and/or other drugs.  This assessment will include a variety of preliminary medical tests, possibly including some field sobriety testing.
 
Because of the potential health risk to a student involved in any suspected substance abuse, and because personnel present in the schools are not able to do a complete medical evaluation of a student, the Kearsarge Regional School District will not permit any student to remain in school when there is a reasonable suspicion that substance abuse has occurred. 

Once school administration has reasonable suspicion to believe a student has been involved with, or is under the influence of, alcohol and/or other drugs (controlled* and unauthorized), the following procedure(s) will occur: 

  1. The student involved will be referred to the district’s Student Assistance Program.
  2. The case will be reported by the administration to the appropriate law enforcement authorities.
  3. Attempts to notify parents/guardians will be made.  Parents/guardians will be required to remove the student from school.  In cases of substance abuse by a student, his/her parents/guardians will be requested to have the student medically evaluated immediately.  It will also be recommended to the parents/guardians that the student be evaluated by a substance abuse counselor as soon as possible.
  4. In severe cases of substance abuse, if a parent/guardian cannot be reached or arrangements made for the student to be dismissed within a short time to an appropriate person, then the administration is authorized to have the student transported to the New London Hospital Emergency Room for medical observation.  The method of transportation will be determined based on the condition of the student, but may be by way of school transportation (with school personnel riding to the hospital), ambulance, or police.  The school physician or local family physician will also be notified.  It will then be the responsibility of the hospital or physician to contact the parent/guardian for further care and arrangements.

*Controlled drugs are defined as written in RSA Chapter 318:B:1 VI as amended.

Legal Reference(s):

RSA Chapter 318:B:1 VI


First Reading:  10/2197
Second Reading:  11/04/97
Approved:  11/18/97
Revised: N/A
Last Review: 11/18/97