Drug and Alcohol Policy

Purpose:
The McKeesport Area School District recognizes that the misuse of drugs is a serious problem with legal, physical and social implications for the whole school community. This policy, including its regulations and guidelines, is a coordinated effort to openly and effective respond to the potential and current uses and abuses of alcohol, other drugs, and mood altering substances by students of McKeesport Area School District.

Through the use of a drug and alcohol awareness curriculum, classroom activities, community support and resources, a strong and consistent administrative and faculty effort, and rehabilitative and disciplinary procedures, the McKeesport Area School District will strive to educate, prevent and intervene in the use and abuse of alcohol, other drugs, and mood altering substances by McKeesport Area School District students.

Authority:
The Board prohibits the use, possession or distribution of any drug/alcohol during school hours, on school property at anytime and/or at any school sponsored event.

The privileged confidentiality between students and guidance counselors, school nurses, school psychologists, home and school visitors, and clerical workers shall be respected and no confidential communication made to any such employee shall be required to be revealed without the consent of the student or his/her parent unless the best interests of the student can be served only by doing so.

Definitions

Alcohol/Other Drugs/Mood Altering Substance - shall include any alcohol or malt beverage, any drug listed in Act 64 (1972) as a controlled substance, chemical, abused substance or medication for which a prescription is required under the law and/or any substance which is intended to alter mood, mental, and/or physical functions. Examples of the above include but are not limited to beer, wine, liquor, marijuana, hashish, chemical solvents, glue, look-a-like substances and any capsules or pills not registered with the nurse annotated within the student's health record and given in accordance with the School District policy for the administration of medication to students in school.

Building Core Team is a multi-disciplinary team composed of school personnel (teachers, staff, administrators, nurses, counselors) and invited specialists of the community. This team has been trained to understand and work on the issues of adolescent chemical use, abuse, and dependency and will play a primary role in the identification and referral process of students coming to their attention through the procedures outlined in this policy.

Chemical Abuse Specialist - a certified addiction counselor with expertise in the area of chemical dependency.

Distribution - deliver, sell, pass, share or give any alcohol, other drug, or mood altering substance, as defined by this policy, from one person to another or to aid therein.

Possession - possess or hold, without any attempt to distribute, any alcohol, other drug or mood altering substance determined to be illegal or as defined by this policy.

Cooperative Behavior - shall be defined as the willingness of a student to work with staff and school personnel in a reasonable and helpful manner, complying with requests and recommendations of the member of the building core team designed for student support in the area of referrals.

Uncooperative Behavior - is resistance or refusal, either verbal, physical or passive, on the part of the student to comply with the reasonable request or recommendation of school personnel. Defiance, assault, deceit, and flight shall constitute examples of uncooperative student behavior. Uncooperative behavior shall also include the refusal to comply with the recommendations of the members of the building core team designed for student support in the area of referrals.

Drug Paraphernalia - includes any utensil or item which in the school's judgment can be clearly associated with the use of alcohol, other drugs, or mood altering substances.

Assessment - includes both psychological and physiological examinations. Any costs involved are the responsibility of the student's parent(s) or legal guardian(s).

As an extension of this policy, the following McKeesport Area School District regulations and guidelines shall be used by all school district personnel when responding to alcohol, other drugs, and mood altering substance-related situations.

Rules and Regulations:
A student who, on school grounds at anytime, during a school session, or anywhere at a school-sponsored activity is under the influence of alcohol, other drugs or mood altering substances or who possesses, uses, dispenses, distributes, sells or aids in the procurement of alcohol, other drugs, or mood altering substances, shall be subject to discipline pursuant to the provisions and procedures outlined in Board Policy #227.

School Guidelines:
As an integral part of the McKeesport Area School District Drug and Alcohol Prevention Program, these guidelines represent one component in a district-wide effort to respond effectively to alcohol, other drug, and mood altering substance related situations that may occur at school or at school-sponsored activities. These guidelines are intended to provide a consistent minimum disciplinary standard response to alcohol, other drug, and mood altering substance related incidents. The McKeesport Area School District will provide a safe and healthy environment for students with due consideration for their legal rights and responsibilities. The Board reserves the right to use any extraordinary measures deemed necessary to control substance abuse even if those measures are not provided for in any rule or regulation enumerated herein.

SUMMARIZATION OF ALCOHOL AND OTHER DRUG ADMINISTRATION GUIDELINES

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