2431.01 - INDIAN CREEK HIGH SCHOOL DRUG TESTING POLICY
Introduction
This program will not affect the policies, practices or rights of the School Corporation in dealing with drug and/or alcohol possession or use where reasonable suspicion is obtained by means other than random sampling provided herein.
Objective Facts Leading to Reasonable Concern
The results of a national study of senior high school students suggest that education alone is not effective in combating substance abuse. The study, conducted by Dr. Earl Wysong and Dr. David Wright, revealed the following results from a survey of students:
eighty-seven percent (87%) of seniors reported using alcohol
thirty-five percent (35%) of seniors reported using marijuana
fifteen percent (15%) of seniors reported using stimulants
eleven percent (11%) of seniors reported using hallucinogens
fifty-one percent (51%) of seniors reported using alcohol within the thirty (30) days prior to the survey
sixteen percent (16%) of seniors reported using marijuana in the thirty (30) days prior to the survey
The impact of the statistics directly affects the mission of the Nineveh-Hensley-Jackson United School Corporation. On a daily basis, attitudes and achievement of students are negatively impacted by drug and alcohol use and their safety, as well as the safety of those coming in contact with them, is jeopardized.
Achievable Goals, Boundaries and Limits of the Program
This education and testing program is intended as a helpful part of the overall physical and mental educational and conditioning programs of the Nineveh-Hensley-Jackson United School Corporation. Its purpose is not disciplinary in nature, but rather is intended as a medical diagnostic aid in disclosing possible drug-related problems and as an extension of educational substance abuse programs. Continuing substance abuse obviously is inconsistent with participation in school, and the program includes appropriate procedures for dealing with such problems.
Obligation to Govern the Medical Condition of Students
I.C. 20-8.1-7 sets out health measures to be governed by school officials. Most specifically, I.C. 20-8.1-7 establishes the responsibility of schools to assist children found to be ill or in need of treatment.
Use Made of Results
The program is not intended to be punitive or disciplinary in nature. The purpose of the program is to identify a student with drug residues in his/her body, to provide notification to the custodial parent/guardian, and to educate, help and direct students away from drug and alcohol abuse toward a healthy, safe and drug-free participation in school activities.
A laboratory certified under the auspices of the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act (CLIA) and the Joint Commission of Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) will provide training and directions to those who supervise the testing program, set up the testing environment, guarantee samples and supervise the chain-of-custody. In the event a student tests positive, s/he, along with the custodial parent/guardian, will meet with the assistant principal and/or the Athletic Director. During this meeting, the positive testing will be reported to the student and parent(s). The student and parent(s) will be told of potential recommendations to be made to the principal.
School and Community Partnership
The elimination of drug and alcohol abuse is the goal of this program. A substance-abuse free environment must be the stated goal of the School Corporation, and the support and cooperation of the entire community is essential if the goal is to be realized. The mission of the Nineveh-Hensley-Jackson United School Corporation is: "to provide and promote a well-rounded quality education for our students."
Procedure
Students in grade nine (9) through twelve (12) and parents must sign a drug testing waiver form for the student to be eligible to participate in any one (1) or the combination of the following:
drive a car to school
athletics including cheerleading and mascot
driver education
All of these activities require that a student be at his/her best and chemical-free in order to provide a safe environment not only for themselves, but also for other students who potentially could be affected.
A urine specimen will be given on site and will involve supervision of by the Athletic Director of an assistant principal and the school nurse. The assistant principal or Athletic Director will be responsible for implementing procedures to obtain specimens, taking into consideration maintaining the dignity of each student.
The test result will remain confidential. Only the principal, assistant principal, and Athletic Director, along with the student and his/her parent(s), will know the results.
If the student tests positive, s/he, along with the parent, will meet with the assistant principal or Athletic Director. During this meeting, the administrator will explain to the student and parent(s) that the student may lose all of the activities/privileges described in the opening paragraph. The administrator will encourage the parent to seek professional help and refer the matter to the principal for final action.
Students will be tested randomly as they are drawn weekly from one large pool constituted in a manner set out in this paragraph, of those agreeing to be tested. Each week testing may occur on a different day, Monday through Friday. This will keep students conscious of the possibility of being tested at any time during the year. Three (3) to twelve (12) students will be tested weekly, the exact number to be determined by the Athletic Director, principal, and assistant principal. Each student will be assigned a number and that number will be placed in the weekly drawing.
The pool shall be identified as Pool A (drivers and drivers ed) and Pool B (athletes). For purposes of drawing names, the pools shall be combined. The name of any student who is both a driver, participating in driver's ed and an athlete, will be put into the pool only once.
Drivers will remain in the pool for the entire year. Drivers ed participants will go into the pool upon signing up for driver's ed and will be purged from the pool at the completion of the drivers' ed program.
Athletes will go into the pool beginning with the first practice date of their sport. They will remain in the pool until the end of the season. Each season officially ends after the last day of competition or the awards program, whichever comes later.
If the student shows signs of being at-risk, the principal may call the student's parent and ask that s/he be tested. At-risk factors will include, but are not limited to excessive discipline problems and/or excessive absences from school. A parent may request testing of his/her child.
No student will be given advance notice or early warning of the testing. In addition, a strict chain of custody will be enforced to eliminate invalid tests or outside influences.
All students will remain under school supervision until they have produced an adequate specimen. If the student cannot produce a specimen, the student will be given one eight (8) ounce glass of water. If still unable to produce a specimen within two (2) hours, the student will be taken to the office and told they no longer are eligible for any of the three (3) activities/privileges referred to earlier. In addition, parents will be telephoned and informed the student is being uncooperative in the testing procedure and that s/he may be tested at a later date to be reinstated for eligibility.
All specimens registering below 90.5 or above 99.8 degrees Fahrenheit will be invalid. There is a heat strip on each of the specimen bottles indicating the validity of the urine sample by temperature. If this occurs, another sample must be given by the student.
If it is proven that tampering or cheating has occurred during this testing, the student will become ineligible for all the items previously listed for the remainder of the school year. This will be reported to parents.
Urine specimens that are found to be diluted will be judged invalid and the student will be re-tested as soon as possible.
Immediately after the specimen is taken, the student may return to class with an admit slip or pass with the time s/he left the testing area. The nurse, Athletic Director, or the assistant principal must time and sign the pass.
Chain of Custody
The assistant principal(s) and/or the Athletic Director will be responsible for implementing procedures to obtain specimens, taking into consideration maintaining the dignity of each student. Testing four (4) to five (5) students at a time allows the testing to be carried out quickly and will not cause students to wait a long time, thereby creating a loss of important time from class. Athletes may be tested after school, perhaps during the time s/he might have practice.
Once at the nurse's office (testing area), the student must sign in and, as soon as called by the nurse, provide a urine specimen.
The nurse will give each student being tested a specimen bottle. At that time, the student will sign a verification form indicating the bottle is untainted. The bottle will remain in the student's possession until a seal is placed upon the bottle by the nurse. The student and nurse will sign that the specimen has been sealed. The seal may be broken or opened by only the lab testing the specimen.
If the seal is tampered with or broken, after leaving the student's possession and prior to arriving at the lab, the specimen is invalid. The student will be tested again as soon as possible. The student will remain eligible until tested positive.
The students will enter the restroom provided by the nurse. The nurse will supervise the entrance for the girl's restroom and the male administrator will supervise the boy's restroom. Students will be instructed to remove all coats and wash their hands in the presence of the supervisor prior to entering the restroom. The door will be closed with the student by himself/herself in the restroom to provide a urine specimen. The supervisor will wait outside the restroom. The commode will contain a blue dye so the water cannot be used to dilute the sample. The faucets in the restroom will be shut off.
The specimen will be transported to the testing laboratory by the lab personnel. The testing laboratory will report the results back to the principal.
Positive Test Results and Appeal
In the event a student tests positive, s/he, along with the parents, will meet with the assistant principal and/or the Athletic Director. During this meeting the positive testing will be reported to the student and the parent. At that time, any extenuating circumstances may be recommended to the principal. However, all positive test results will be reported to the principal who is not bound by the recommendations of the Athletic Director of assistant principal. The student or his/her parents may appeal by requesting another urine sample be tested by the lab at a cost to the student or his/her parent. The length of the restriction will be pursuant from activities, if the student wishes to return to activities. The student or his/her parent will pay for the costs of this test.
In the case of multiple positive test results, the student will be referred for professional evaluation to be paid for by the parent. In the event of multiple test results, the student will not be allowed to return to the restricted program until professional evaluation and treatment is completed and certified to the school by the professional and until a negative test result is obtained.