Drug Testing
Policy
Alcohol, Tobacco, and Drug Testing
All students participating in athletics will be required to
pass a drug test before they participate in the extracurricular activity. The
mandatory drug test will be given at the beginning of each year, if a student
decides to play a sport that begins in the spring, they must pass a drug test
before they can participate. A random drug test will be given throughout the
year. See the Italy ISD-Drug Testing Program, to determine which students are
required to take the mandatory drug test or which students are placed in the
random pool for random testing throughout the year. If an athlete fails a test,
they will be required to pass a drug test, at the expense of the parent or
student in order to participate in the extracurricular activity. The following
consequences are results of a failed drug test:
The following consequences are results of a failed drug test:
1st Time Offense - Athlete is not eligible
to play in a game or scrimmage for 30 calendar days. He/she will remain in the
athletic period and can continue to practice with the team.
2nd Time Offense- Athlete cannot participate in
any extracurricular activity for 90 calendar days. Depending on the time of the
test in the school year, it will be determined whether the student will remain
in the athletic period and whether they will continue to practice with the team.
3rd Time Offense- Student can no longer
participate in any extracurricular activity for as long as that student is in
Italy High School.
These consequences will also pertain to other items such as
alcohol and tobacco products. The student will also suffer the above stated
consequences if they are caught with such items as drugs, alcohol, or tobacco
products in their possession whether to distribute or to use at a later time. If
the student is randomly selected for the drug test and refuses to be tested,
who tampers with any sample, or who assists others in tampering with any sample
shall be subject to the same consequences as a student having a confirmed
positive test result. Calendar days will stop counting on the last day of
school and begin back on the first day of class the next year or the first day
of practice of the school-sponsored activity whichever comes first.
The Athletic Director has the final say on all rules,
regulations, and decisions.
BOARD POLICY MANUAL (FNF LOCAL)
DRUG-TESTING POLICY
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The District requires drug testing of any student in grades 9-12 who chooses
to participate in school-sponsored extracurricular activities.
Any freshman student or a student new to the District participating in these
activities shall be tested for the presence of illegal drugs and alcohol at
the beginning of each school year, and prior to joining an extracurricular
program at any time during the school year.
In addition, students participating in these activities shall be randomly
tested throughout the school year. |
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COVERED ACTIVITIES |
School-sponsored extracurricular activities for which testing is required
include UIL athletics, UIL literary, band, flag corps, cheerleading,
agriculture, and small schools academic contest. |
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PURPOSE |
The purposes of the drug-testing program are to:
1.
Prevent injury, illness, and harm resulting from the use of illegal
and performance-enhancing drugs or alcohol;
2.
Help enforce a drug-free educational environment;
3.
Deter student use of illegal and performance-enhancing drugs or
alcohol; and
4.
Educate students regarding the harm caused by the use of illegal and
performance-enhancing drugs or alcohol. |
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DISTRIBUTION OF POLICY |
The District shall provide each parent and student a copy of the
drug-testing policy and consent form prior to the student's participation in
an affected activity. |
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ORIENTATION MEETINGS |
The District shall conduct meetings with parents and interested student
participants prior to the beginning of the fall practice period beginning in
the 2006-07 school year.
District employees shall explain the drug-testing program and review the
policy and consent form.
An educational presentation on the harmful effects of drug and alcohol abuse
shall be provided.
Student attendance at the orientation meeting is mandatory.
Parent attendance at an orientation meeting is not mandatory. |
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CONSENT |
Before a student is eligible to participate in extracurricular activities,
the student shall be required to sign a consent form agreeing to be subject
to the rules and procedures of the drug-testing program. If the student is
under the age of 18, the student's parent or guardian shall also sign a
consent form. If appropriate consent is not given, the student shall not be
allowed to participate in extracurricular activities. |
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USE OF RESULTS |
Drug test results shall be used only to determine eligibility for
participation in extracurricular activities. Positive drug test results
shall not be used to impose disciplinary sanctions or academic penalties.
Nevertheless, nothing in this policy shall limit or affect the application
of state law, local policy, or the Student Code of Conduct. A student who
commits a disciplinary offense shall be subject to consequences in
accordance with the Student Code of Conduct. |
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CONFIDENTIALITY |
Drug test results shall be confidential and shall be disclosed only to the
student, the student's parents, and designated District officials who need
the information in order to administer the drug-testing program. Drug test
results shall not be maintained with a student's academic record. Results
shall not be otherwise disclosed except as required by law. |
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TESTING LABORATORY |
The Board shall contract with a certified drug-testing laboratory to conduct
testing of students' urine samples.
Testing laboratories shall not release statistics regarding the rate of
positive drug tests to any person or organization without consent of the
District. |
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SUBSTANCES FOR WHICH TESTS ARE CONDUCTED |
The drug-testing laboratory shall test for the presence of illegal drugs
including amphetamines, cocaine, marijuana, opiates, and phenocyclidine.
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The District shall make available to students and parents a list of the
substances for which tests may be conducted. |
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COLLECTION PROCEDURES |
Personnel from the drug-testing laboratory shall collect urine samples under
conditions that are no more intrusive than the conditions experienced in a
public restroom. When selected for testing, a student shall be escorted to
the school's testing site by a District employee and shall remain under
employee supervision until the student provides a sample. Samples shall be
produced by a student from behind a closed restroom stall. A District
employee of the same gender as the student shall be present when any samples
are collected. |
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RANDOM TESTING |
Random tests shall be conducted on as many as nine dates throughout the
school year. |
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No less than 15 percent and no more than 20 percent of the students
participating in the program shall be randomly selected for each random test
date.
The drug-testing laboratory shall use a random selection method to identify
students chosen for random testing. Students shall not receive prior notice
of the testing date or time. |
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REFUSAL TO TEST OR TAMPERING |
A
student who refuses to be tested when selected or who is determined to have
tampered with a sample shall be deemed to have a positive test result and
shall be subject to the appropriate consequences depending on previous
positive test results, if any.
If a student is absent on the day of the random test, a sample shall be
collected on the next random testing date. |
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POSITIVE TEST RESULTS |
An initial positive test shall be confirmed by a second test of the same
specimen before being reported as positive.
Upon receiving results of a positive drug test, the District shall schedule
a meeting with the student, the student's parent if the student is under the
age of 18, and the coach or sponsor of the extracurricular activity to
review the test results and discuss consequences.
The student or parent shall have two school days following the meeting to
provide a medical explanation for a positive result. |
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CONSEQUENCES |
Consequences of positive test results shall be cumulative through the
student's enrollment in the District.
A student who has a confirmed positive drug test shall be subject to the
following consequences: |
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The student shall be suspended from any extracurricular activity for 30
calendar days following the date the student and parent are notified of the
test results. |
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During the period of suspension, the student may participate in practices
but not in any competitive activities. |
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If the student wishes to return to participation in extracurricular
activities, the student must be retested during the period of suspension and
have a negative test result. |
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The District shall notify the parent and student of drug and alcohol abuse
prevention resources available in the area. |
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The student shall be suspended from any extracurricular activity for 90
calendar days following the date the student and parent are notified of the
test results.
The District shall again notify the parent and student of drug and alcohol
abuse prevention resources available in the area. |
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THIRD OFFENSE |
The student shall be suspended from participation in any extracurricular
activity for the remainder of the student's enrollment in the District
following the date the student and parent are notified of the test results.
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END-OF-SEMESTER SUSPENSIONS |
If a student's suspension from participation is not completed by the end of
the semester, the student shall complete the assigned period of suspension
during the following semester or during the first semester of the following
school year. |
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APPEALS |
A
student or parent may appeal a decision made under this policy in accordance
with FNG(LOCAL). The student shall be ineligible for participation in
extracurricular activities while the appeal is pending |
