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Students - Drug & Alcohol Use

Students Alcohol/Drug Use

It shall be the policy of the board to take positive action through education, counseling, parental involvement, intervention, medical referral, and police referral in the handling of incidents in the schools involving the possession, sale, and/or use of behavior affecting substances. These substances shall include but not be limited to cocaine, marijuana, LSD, glue, alcohol, barbiturates, and controlled substances as defined by Georgia law, and anabolic steroids. The possession and use of alcohol and of illegal and/or illicit drugs is wrong and harmful. Compliance with this policy and its rules is mandatory.

It shall further be the policy of the Board to provide age appropriate, developmentally based drug and alcohol education and prevention programs which address the legal, social, and health consequences of drug and alcohol use, and to provide information about effective techniques for resisting peer pressure to use illicit drugs or alcohol for all students in the system. These programs shall also provide information about any drug and alcohol counseling, rehabilitation, and re-entry programs available to students.

Narcotics, Alcoholic Beverages, Stimulant Drugs, and Contraband

A student shall not possess, sell, use, transmit, or be under the influence of any alcoholic beverage, other intoxicant of any kind, or any other substance, the possession or use of which is either now or hereafter prohibited under any state or federal statute or law, or any regulation, ruling, or decision made pursuant thereto:

  1. on the school grounds during and immediately before or immediately after school hours;
  2. on the school grounds any other time when the school is being used by any school group;
  3. off the school grounds at a school activity, function, or event;
  4. or en route to and from school.

“Under the influence” can include: (a) exhibiting physical signs and symptoms of drug or alcohol use, and/or (b) being on campus or at a school function after having used illegal and/or illicit drugs or alcohol.

Procedures for Handling Incidents of Drug and Alcohol Use

When a student is found to be involved in the buying, selling, distribution, or possession of alcohol, drugs, or any other drug related activity which violates school board policy, the principal will notify the Superintendent, the parents, and appropriate law enforcement authorities. The student will be subject to the following disciplinary action:

  1. If the violation is for use or possession of drugs, the student will be subject to the following:

    FIRST OFFENSE
    Expulsion from school for a minimum of the remainder of the semester or at least thirty days if there are less than thirty days remaining in the semester. The student will be readmitted to school only after completion of a drug intervention program provided by the local mental health agency. Approval must be obtained prior to beginning the program. The agency must certify the satisfactory completion of the drug program prior to readmission.

    SECOND OFFENSE
    Permanent expulsion or expulsion for the length of time as determined by the Board of Education or possible recommendation for alternative school placement. If there is evidence the student is involved in distribution or sale of drugs, the Board of Education may bypass the penalty of the first offense and apply the penalty for the second offense. Any exception of these procedures must have the approval of the Board of Education.
  2. If the student is in violation of policy JCDAB/JCDAC for the unlawful possession, use, or distribution of alcoholic beverages, the student will be subject to the following:

    FIRST OFFENSE
    If the violation is flagrant, the student may be subject to expulsion. Minimum punishment, as determined by the administration, will be an extended assignment at the In-School Suspension Center or out of school suspension. During the suspension period, assessment of the level of involvement of alcohol use is expected to take place. A satisfactory conference will be held by the administration with the student and the student’s parents as a condition for readmission to school.

    SECOND OFFENSE
    Expulsion for a length of time as determined by the Board of Education. Any exception of these procedures must have approval from the Board of Education.

The schools will cooperate with the police department by reporting the source of supply if known to the school, and by developing an in-service instruction program for staff members.

The school will assist students who use drugs or alcohol by counseling, drug abuse education, cooperation with the county health department and individual physicians in appropriate health instruction and health care, and by other appropriate means.

Use of Tobacco

Student smoking and use of tobacco products is prohibited at school or while students are participants in school activities or being transported on school buses.

 

The Tift County Board of Education is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, religion, race, color, creed, marital status, sex, handicapping or disability condition, national origin, academic or economic disadvantage in its educational programs, services, activities or in its employment practices.

The Tift County Board of Education and school system is a drug-free workplace.