FILE:  JCDAC

 

STUDENT ALCOHOL AND DRUG USE

 

 

The West Baton Rouge Parish School Board directs that each student shall be specifically prohibited from being under the influence of, bringing on, consuming, or having in his/her possession on a school bus, on school premises, or at a school function on campus or away from the school, any alcoholic beverages, narcotic drugs, prescription medications, marijuana, nitrate based inhalants, imitation or counterfeit controlled substances, or other controlled substance as defined by state statutes, unless dispensed by a licensed physician as allowed by law.  The Superintendent shall be responsible for maintaining appropriate procedures for the detection of alcohol, nitrate based inhalants, or any imitation or other controlled substances.

 

Any violations of criminal laws, state or federal, committed on school property shall be prosecuted as provided by law.  School officials, teachers and/or School Board employees shall report all violators to the principal, who in turn, shall notify the proper law enforcement agency and shall cooperate with the prosecuting attorney's office in the prosecution of charges.  Any student who distributes, sells or dispenses in any manner or form whatsoever a controlled dangerous substance as defined by state law to another student or anyone else while on the school premises shall be expelled pursuant to the provisions and guidelines as set forth in state law.

 

The principal shall immediately notify the parents or guardian, by telephone, of any student found in violation of this policy.  If the parents or guardian cannot be reached by phone, the principal shall then notify them of the action by sending a letter within twenty-four (24) hours.  Care shall be given to afford due process to all students.

 

In addition, any student suspended or expelled for being under the influence of, in possession of, or for use of drugs, including nitrate based inhalants and alcohol, shall be required to have an assessment at a substance abuse treatment center, either private or public, and will follow the recommended treatment plan.  Before being admitted back into school, the student must present to the principal a complete report from the substance abuse treatment center to which the student was referred.  After returning to school, the principal will require the student to participate in the SAT Insight Group.

 

A student, who, on his/her own accord, admits to the use of mood altering chemicals (drugs, i.e., alcohol, marijuana, etc.) shall be referred to the substance abuse prevention education team, and along with parents, shall be offered advice and guidance.  No disciplinary action shall be taken against a student under these circumstances.

 

Students who are observed to have behavior changes by an employee of the school system shall, through referral procedures, be referred to the SAT team and, along with the parents, will be offered advice and guidance.  In these cases, no disciplinary action will be recommended.  Any student arrested for intentional distribution of or possession with intent to distribute any illegal narcotic, drug, or other controlled substance on school property shall be referred by the school principal or designee, within five (5) days after such arrest for testing or screening by a qualified medical professional for evidence of abuse of alcohol, illegal narcotics, drugs or other controlled dangerous substances.

 

SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION/EDUCATION

 

It is becoming increasingly apparent that young people who use drugs are not taking the intellectual gains they should and are not developing the coping skills they need.

 

While the school system is not responsible for the use and abuse of mood-altering chemicals by students, the School Board recognizes and accepts responsibility to offer assistance to those in need.  It is not the intent of the school system to punish students who are harmfully involved with drugs, but rather to recognize it as an illness and to refer those students to proper treatment resources for rehabilitation.

 

The school system is committed to educating students, parents and the community about the reality of drug abuse and sources of assistance.  Consequently, the West Baton Rouge Parish School Board has initiated the Drug Free Schools and Communities program in the schools.  The Drug Free Schools and Communities teams will be responsible for implementing the school prevention/intervention program.  The school SAT and counselors will work with Student Support and Insight Groups and will refer students who are harmfully involved with alcohol and drugs for proper treatment.

 

STUDENT SUPPORT AND STUDENT INSIGHT GROUPS

 

Student support groups are available to those students who have been through treatment for chemical dependency and/or involved in an Alcoholics Anonymous Program.  Also invited to the support group are students who are living with families where chemical dependency is a problem or students who are committed to living a drug free life.  The purpose of this group is to help students stay drug free and to seek healthy alternatives.

 

Student Insight Groups are available to students who may be having problems with drug/alcohol abuse.  Students may be referred to this group through the school drug team.  The purpose of this group is to help participants see the harmful consequences of drug/alcohol abuse and to seek healthy alternatives.

 

Anyone interested in participating in either of these groups should contact a faculty member.

 

STUDENT OFFENSES AND DISCIPLINE

 

State law mandates that teachers and other school employees report suspected substance abuse in school.  These cases shall be reported to the principal and the SAT coordinator in the school.  The principal must report each case of possession, distributing, sales or manufacturing to the proper law enforcement authority.  The student must be referred to the SAT team, who shall evaluate the case and report their findings to the principal along with the recommendation for treatment, counseling or other appropriate action.

 

It shall not be the intention of the school system to punish students for drug abuse problems, but rather to refer those who may be harmfully involved for proper treatment. Parents are to be informed when such problems arise.

 

DRUG FREE ZONES

 

It is unlawful for anyone to use, distribute, be under the influence of, manufacture or possess any controlled substances as defined by statute on or around school property or an area within 2,000 feet of any property used for school purposes by any school, or on a school bus.  These areas shall be designated as Drug Free Zones.  The West Baton Rouge Parish School Board, in cooperation with local governmental agencies, and the Louisiana Department of Education, shall designate and mark Drug Free Zones which surround all schools and school property.

 

Revised:  November, 2010

 

 

Ref:    La. Rev. Stat. Ann. ยงยง14:403.1, 17:405, 17:416, 40:961, 40:962, 40:963, 40:964, 40:967, 40:968, 40:969, 40:970, 40:971, 40:971.1

Board minutes, 6-8-88

 

West Baton Rouge Parish School Board