1.0 SCOPE: 1.1 This procedure describes the process by which the Washoe County School District disciplines students who have engaged in substance abuse, are in possession of substances and/or paraphernalia, or are referred to the substance abuse intervention program. The online version of this procedure is official. Therefore, all printed versions of this document are unofficial copies. 2.0 RESPONSIBILITY: 2.1 Superintendant 3.0 APPROVAL AUTHORITY: 3.1 Executive Director of Pathways and Guidance Counseling 4.0 DEFINITIONS: 4.1 IEP- Individualized Education Plan (Approval signature on file) Signature (Approval signature on file) Signature Date Date 4.2 Paraphernalia- any tool to smoke, inhale, snort, store, cut, inject, ingest or otherwise consume an illicit drug or substance described above. 4.3 SAP- Substance Abuse Intervention Program 4.4 Substances- alcohol, tobacco and other illicit drugs including chemical and/or organic solvents to induce euphoria or hallucinations to include but not limited to any substances being used as a controlled substance. 4.5 WCSD Washoe County School District 5.0 PROCEDURE: NOTE: This procedure is the discipline administration guide and does not include the school police s protocol for handling the legal aspects of possession and use of substances. Elementary Schools First Offense 5.1 Any student in grades K-6 apprehended on school grounds, during a school district sponsored activity, or during school district sponsored transportation as a first offender for a substance abuse offense, here defined as having consumed or being in possession of alcohol, tobacco, an illicit substance, drug-related paraphernalia, a chemical or organic solvent to induce euphoria or hallucinations, and/or any substance being used as a controlled substance will automatically receive five (5) days of out of school suspension. 5.1.1 Individualized recommendations may be made for students who are eligible for 5.1.2 The Principal or authorized school administrator will refer the student to the Elementary Drug Intervention Program. Four (4) days of the suspension may be Date: 1/10/11, Rev. B PATH-P107 Page 1 of 5
waived if the student participates in all sessions of the Elementary Drug Intervention Program. 5.1.3 The student is required to attend one (1) conference involving the Principal or other authorized school administrator building administrator, a school counselor, and at least one (1) of his/her parent(s)/guardian(s). Additionally, the student is required to attend at least two (2) alcohol/drug-related counseling sessions with the school counselor. 5.1.4 A student enrolled in and regularly attending the Elementary Intervention Program is allowed to continue regular attendance. 5.1.5 A student and/or the parent(s)/guardian(s) may request to receive the services provided through the Elementary Drug Intervention Program even though the student is not under disciplinary action by the school. Elementary Student Second Offense 5.2 Any student in grades K-6 apprehended on school grounds, during a school district sponsored activity, or during school district sponsored transportation as a second possession of alcohol, tobacco, an illicit substance, drug-related paraphernalia, a chemical or organic solvent to induce euphoria or hallucinations, and/or any substance being used as a controlled substance will be assessed for disciplinary action on an individual basis. 5.2.1 Students who have engaged in a substance abuse offense may be suspended up to, but shall not exceed ten (10) days in any given school year, unless a decision for long tern suspension has been governed in accordance with PATH-P106 Suspension. 5.2.2 An Assessment will be executed by the site-based team consisting of the school administrator, school counselor, parent(s)/guardian(s) and the Coordinator of Safe and Drug Free Schools. 5.2.2.1 The Coordinator of Safe and Drug Free Schools may approve the participation of other support persons at the parent(s)/guardian(s) or administrator's discretion. 5.2.2.2 Upon completion of the assessment, an individual intervention plan, inclusive of a time line for completion, and the means of evaluating completion, will be submitted to the Substance Abuse Program. 5.2.3 Possible interventions may include, but are not limited to: parent/guardian attendance at Washoe County School District's Drug Intervention Program classes, family counseling/preservation, alcohol/drug-specific counseling with the school counselor, and/or referral to a community professional certified/licensed within the State of Nevada as a therapist and an alcohol/drug counselor. 5.2.3.1 Any interventions for subsequent offenses will be addressed in a similar manner. Secondary Schools First Offense 5.3 Any student in grades 7-12 apprehended on school grounds, at a school district sponsored activity, or during school district sponsored transportation as a first possession of alcohol, an illicit substance, drug-related paraphernalia, and/or a chemical or organic solvent to induce euphoria or hallucinations, and/or any Date: 1/10/11, Rev. B PATH-P107 Page 2 of 5
substance being used as a controlled substance will automatically receive a ten (10) day suspension from school. 5.3.1 Individualized recommendations may be made for students who are eligible for 5.3.2 The Principal or authorized school administrator will refer the student to the Secondary Drug Intervention Program. 5.3.2.1 Seven (7) days of the suspension may be waived if the student participates in all sessions of the Secondary Drug Intervention Program. 5.3.2.2 The student is required to attend four (4) consecutive weekly sessions of two (2) hours each with at least one (1) of his/her parent(s)/guardian(s), or with another responsible adult who has the approval of the Principal and the Coordinator of Safe and Drug Free Schools. 5.3.2.3 A student enrolled in and regularly attending the Secondary Drug Intervention Program is allowed to continue regular school attendance. 5.3.2.4 A student and/or parent/guardian may request to be enrolled in the Secondary Drug Intervention Program even though the student is not under disciplinary action by the school. Secondary Schools - Second Offense 5.4 Any student in grades 7-12 apprehended on school grounds, during a school district sponsored activity, or during school district sponsored transportation as a second possession of alcohol, an illicit substance, drug-related paraphernalia, and/or a chemical or organic solvent to induce euphoria or hallucinations, and/or any substance being used as a controlled substance will automatically receive a ten (10) day suspension from school. 5.4.1 Individualized recommendations may be made for students who are eligible for The Coordinator of Safe and Drug Free Schools may make individualized recommendations for general education students. 5.4.2 Five (5) days of suspension may be waived if the student, as a condition of being readmitted into the district's educational programs, receives a chemical abuse evaluation to be performed by an approved third party at the expense of the parent(s)/guardian(s) and enters the district's in-house Student Assistance Program for regular attendance at a minimum of eight (8) consecutive alcohol/drug-related support sessions. 5.4.3 The student and his/her parent(s)/guardian(s) will conference with the zoned school s Student Assistance Program staff, where appropriate, prior to, and following completion of, eight (8) alcohol/drug-related support sessions 5.4.4 If the student s zoned school does not have a Student Assistance Program, the student will be referred to a community agency for a minimum of eight (8) consecutive alcohol/drug-related support sessions to be provided at parent expense. 5.4.5 A student following the requirements stated above is allowed to continue regular school attendance. In the event of a second offense by a secondary school student, a copy of the substance abuse disciplinary referral will be mailed to the Coordinator of Safe and Drug Free Schools Office. Date: 1/10/11, Rev. B PATH-P107 Page 3 of 5
5.4.5.1 The school of attendance will provide the Coordinator of Safe and Drug Free Schools with evidence of the student s chemical abuse evaluation and verification of attendance at a minimum of eight (8) alcohol/drugrelated support sessions. Secondary Schools Third or More Offense 5.5 Any student in grades 7-12 apprehended on school grounds, during a school district sponsored activity, or during school district sponsored transportation as a third possession of an alcoholic beverage, an illicit substance, drug-related paraphernalia, and/or a chemical or organic solvent to induce euphoria or hallucinations, and/or any substance being used as a controlled substance will be placed on emergency suspension. 5.6 The student who has been cited for his/her third substance abuse offense may shall be placed on an Emergency Suspension and may be suspended up to, but shall not exceed ten (10) days in any given school year, unless a decision for long term suspension has been governed in accordance with PATH-P116 Suspension Procedure. 5.7 During the emergency suspension, the building administrator will meet with the student and his/her parent(s) and/or guardian(s). 5.8 As a condition of being readmitted into the district's educational programs, the student will receive a chemical abuse evaluation to be performed by an approved third party at the expense of the parent(s) and/ or guardian(s). 5.9 Should the student and parent(s) and/or guardian(s) agree to fulfill the recommendations of the evaluator and submit evidence thereof to the school administration, the student will be permitted to continue his/her education on a probationary basis for a period of ninety (90) school days. 5.10 The student will attend substance abuse counseling at the parent(s)/guardian(s) expense with regular attendance at a minimum of ten (10) alcohol/drug-related support sessions. The student and parent(s) and/or guardian(s) will conference with the school Student Assistance Program staff prior to, and following completion of, ten (10) alcohol/drug-related sessions and show proof of attendance. 5.10.1 A copy of the substance abuse disciplinary referral will be mailed to the Washoe County School District's Safe and Drug Free Schools office. 5.10.2 The school of attendance will provide the Safe and Drug Free School s office with evidence of the student s attendance at a minimum of ten (10) alcohol/drugrelated support sessions. 5.10.3 A student following the requirements stated above is allowed to continue regular school attendance, although consideration for the student to attend an alternative educational setting may determined by an administrator in the Student Services Discipline and Athletics Department and/or Area Administrator.. 5.11 Should the student and parent(s)/guardian(s) fail to agree to the chemical abuse evaluation (described above), fail to fulfill the recommendations of the evaluator (described above), or should there be another violation of substance abuse, the school administrator will immediately undertake due process procedures for an Emergency Suspension from school not to exceed ninety (90) school days. Date: 1/10/11, Rev. B PATH-P107 Page 4 of 5
5.12 In cases where the student is eligible for special education, the Coordinator of Specialized Discipline may review the individualized circumstances and determine appropriate disciplinary sanctions/long-term suspension. 5.13 In addition, the Coordinator of Specialized Discipline may assist the building administrator and IEP team in determining appropriate educational programming and services, where applicable. 6.0 ASSOCIATED DOCUMENTS: 6.1 Substance Abuse Intervention Program Referral Form 6.2 PATH F100 Positive Behavior Support Tracking Form 7.0 RECORD RETENTION TABLE: Identification Storage Retention Disposition Protection Positive Behavior Support Tracking Form School Site 5 years Discard as desired Locked File 8.0 REVISION HISTORY: Date: 9/15/09 Rev. Description of Revision: Initial Release 1/10/11 B Change approval authority title and SSDA to PATH * * * E n d o f p r o c e d u r e * * * Date: 1/10/11, Rev. B PATH-P107 Page 5 of 5