Substance Abuse Policy
Champaign schools are not:, nor ever should be, a sanctuary from the laws of the Federal, State, or Local Government. Therefore, consistent with existing laws governing the sale or delivery, possession or use of alcohol, marijuana cannabis, drugs, drug paraphernalia, or "look-alikes," any student found to be in violation of these laws will be immediately reported to the appropriate law enforcement official for possible investigation and action. Champaign students found to be under the influence, in possession or control of, or selling or delivering any controlled substance (alcohol, marijuana cannabis, drugs, drug paraphernalia, or look- alike) while in school, while in transit to and from school, on school district property, or at any school-sponsored activity, whether on school district property or at an approved school activity held on non-school property, will be subject to disciplinary action, which may result in suspension or expulsion from school and extracurricular activities. All substantiated violations of this policy shall be reported to law enforcement officials. Provisions of state and national charters bylaws of student organizations shall take precedence over the provisions of this policy. LEG. REF.: Ill. Rev. Stat. 38, 22; Ill. Rev. Stat. 122, 863-3. DRAFT: 3-3-00 (edit of approved policy dated July 13, 1998)
Substance Abuse Administrative Procedures
INTRODUCTION Public schools were created to provide an educational service for the community. While recognizing that this is their primary goal, they also have other responsibilities to the students. working alone, schools cannot solve the problems of society. As a team, parents and educators can accomplish great things. Champaign Unit No. 4 feels that working to keep students in school and learning is a major responsibility of the school district, while Unit No. 4 feels a responsibility to help all students learn, it also has a responsibility to protect those who want to learn. for this reason, the school district has adopted this policy when dealing with alcohol and drug use by students. All students found in violation of this policy must enroll in an approved substance abuse counseling program. Participation in the counseling program must have been completed during the suspension period before the student can regain activity eligibility. Should circumstances beyond the student's control prevent this, a written statement from the substance abuse counselor is necessary to regain eligibility. This policy and its procedure will be made available to all students and parents/legal guardians via the buildings' student handbooks and discussed with the students by the head coach or activity advisor during the first meeting of the year or sports' season. The use, possession, and/or delivery of alcoholic beverages, marijuana cannabis, or any other controlled substance (drugs, drug paraphernalia look-alikes) are forbidden. Subject to the following exceptions, this policy will be in effect on a continuous basis during the school term and during those dates outside the school term when students are actually participating in extracurricular activities. This policy will not be in effect during after-school hours, week-ends, vacation breaks and holidays unless the violation occurs on school property, at school- related activities, or is otherwise school related. The sanctions for the substantiated offenses will progressively escalate during the school year. Students who are unable to complete a sanction during the course of the school year shall complete the sanction during the next school year, otherwise, each school year shall be regarded separately for purposes of progressive discipline.
To facilitate implementation of this policy, the following terms are defined:
Under the Influence: Any student who is under the influence of any alcoholic beverage, marijuana, any controlled substance who has consumed any amount of alcohol, cannabis, or controlled substances other than as prescribed by a physician, or any other intoxicating substance will be subject to disciplinary action. Any student who has consumed or used any amount of a controlled substance. marijuana, drugs, or intoxicants including alcohol, Consumption occurring during or prior to coming to school or at school-related activities (home or away) will be considered under the influence. The determination will be made by two adult authorized school personnel, and the final decision to discipline will rest with the administration. Possession: Any student who has possession or control of any alcoholic beverage, marijuana cannabis, any controlled substance other than as prescribed by a physician for that individual, any other intoxicating substance, any drug paraphernalia, or any "look-alike" will be subject to disciplinary action. A substance or item need not be in a student's immediate presence to be in his/her possession or control. Delivery: Any student who delivers, receives delivery of, or attempts to deliver or receive delivery of any alcoholic beverage, marijuana cannabis, any controlled substance, any other intoxicating substance, any drug paraphernalia, or look-alike will be subject to disciplinary action. Delivery means a transfer of possession or control to another person whether or not the substance or item is in that person's immediate presence. Delivery includes, but is not limited to, any gift, exchange, sale or other transfer with or without payment or other consideration. Look-alikes: A "look-alike substance" is a substance which by dosage unit appearance, including color, shape, size, container and/or packaging, markings or by representation made, would lead a reasonable person to believe that the substance is an alcoholic beverage, marijuanu cannabis, or a controlled substance. Drug Paraphernalia: "Drug paraphernalia" means all equipment, products and materials of any kind that are peculiar to, marketed for use in packaging, repackaging, storing, containing, concealing, injecting, ingesting, inhaling, or otherwise introducing into the human body, marijuana cannabis or any controlled substance other than as prescribed by a physician. It is to be noted that coaches and advisors will set guidelines relative to practices, games, meetings, activity behavior, absences, language use, etc.; and are given the latitude to establish appropriate disciplinary guidelines as long as they do not exceed the guidelines of this policy. Provisions of state and national charters/bylaws of student organizations shall take precedence over the provisions of this policy. Students who believe they have a substance abuse problem are encouraged to seek help by voluntarily contacting the social worker, a counselor, a member of the school's Building Support Team (B ST), or a member of the administration. No penalty will be assessed for voluntary admission to drug or alcohol recovery program while in high school or middle school. Voluntary admission by a student is to be encouraged. However, should the student be found in violation of this policy after seeking help, the provisions of the policy will apply. Participation in a recognized substance abuse program is valuable for the student but cannot be used to escape responsibility for sanctions under this policy.
Investigation, Sanctions, and Review Process
The appropriate building administrator will begin an immediate, thorough investigation of the alleged violation. Evidence used to substantiate a violation will be provided by school staff, contracted employees, and law enforcement officials who were present on site. Students may be interviewed in an investigation but will not be required to provide information on other students if they do not wish to do so. The designated building administrator will confer with the student and parents/legal guardian as part of the investigation of the alleged violation. If the evidence substantiates the claim that a violation of this policy has occurred, the appropriate penalties will be issued at that time. The building administrator will notify, in writing, the student and the parents/legal guardian of the decision.
Disciplinary Procedures
The following procedures will be applied in accordance with the District's disciplinary procedures and special education laws as outlined in the student discipline handbook. The penalties assessed will follow a "1st, 2nd, 3rd Offense, etc." format, as outlined below, which provides for reasonable penalty assessment relative to the frequency of violations incurred. The student participant is given the opportunity to "learn" from a first-time mistake without arbitrarily barring him/her from further participation in school activities for the remainder of his/her school career. 1. The first violation shall result in an out-of-school suspension for ten school days and suspension for 30 calendar days from all school activities (teams, clubs, and all other school-sponsored activities). A parent conference will be scheduled as soon as possible with the principal or his/her designee; and if the parent and student agree to participate in an appropriate substance abuse prevention activity as designated by the principal, the out-of-school suspension will be considered an excused absence and make-up work accepted for full credit. Participation in the counseling program will permit the out-of-school suspension for high school students to be reduced to five days, and for middle school students the suspension to be reduced to three days. If the student and his/her parent or legal guardian fail to participate and complete the prevention activity, the remainder of the ten-day suspension will be invoked, and the absence shall be unexcused and no credit shall be given for the work missed during the ten days. If parents refuse or are unable to attend the counseling program, the principal, with the concurrence of the Director of Student Services, may permit the out-of-school suspension to be reduced as stated above, providing that the student participates. Middle and high school students will be referred to the Building Support Team (BST) for additional support. Parents will be informed. 2. A second violation shall result in an out-of-school suspension for ten school days and suspension from all school activities (teams, clubs, and all school-sponsored activities) for 90 calendar days. The ten days of absence shall be unexcused, and no credit will be given for make-up work. A parent conference will be scheduled as soon as possible with the principal or his/her designee, and if the parent or legal guardian and student agree to participate in an appropriate substance abuse prevention activity as designated by the principal, the absence caused by the suspension will be excused and make-up work accepted for full credit. 3. Any subsequent violation, in any one school year, shall result in an out-of-school suspension for ten school days, and the principal shall recommend expulsion from school and all school activities for the remainder of the school year. The ten days of absence shall be unexcused, and no credit will be given for make-up work. 4. Any student who delivers, or attempts to deliver, an alcoholic beverage, marijuana cannabis, or any controlled substance or look-alike while in school, on school grounds, or at any school-sponsored activity will be subject to an out-of-school suspension for ten school day and suspension from all school activities for up to 90 calendar days. The suspension will not be reduced, but if the student and parent or legal guardian agree to participate in an appropriate substance abuse prevention activity as designated by the principal, the out-of school suspension will be excused and make-up work accepted for full credit. The principal will recommend expulsion from school for any offense involving delivery or selling of any controlled substance.
Review Process
The building review process begins with the student or parent requesting a principal's face-to-face review within five (5) days after receiving written notification of the suspension. If the suspension is upheld in the principal's review, the student and/or parents/legal guardian have the right to a suspen-sion hearing with the Director of Student Services. The first step in the district level review is the hearing with the Director of Student Services. The review will consist of a formal hearing to which all necessary parties will be invited. Parents/legal guardians may bring witnesses who have evidence pertinent to the issue of the hearing. A student or his/her parents/legal guardian may request a final appeal of the decision of the Director of Student Services by filing a written request within ten (10) school days with the Superintendent of Schools.
Student Support
Students may seek or be offered prevention and case management services when experiencing personal problems which affect their ability to learn successfully. Issues that can be dealt with by the BST include: substance abuse, depression, family problems, and school-related problems. DRAFT: 5-12-00 (edit of approved procedure dated September 13, 1999)