• Random Student Drug Testing Policy

    Lake Station Community School Corporation (LSCSC) has a responsibility to ensure the safety, health, and well-being of students, faculty, and staff. LSCSC believes that drug and alcohol abuse in the school presents a substantive threat to safety, health and well-being, as well as jeopardizes the quality and the efficiency of our educational programs. LSCSC will implement a Random Student Drug Testing Policy along with Reasonable Suspicion guidelines with the goal of providing a healthy, safe, and secure drug-free learning environment for all students, faculty, and staff.

    STATEMENT Of PURPOSE

    The primary purpose of the Random Student Drug Testing Policy is to educate our students, and is not intended to be disciplinary or punitive in nature. This testing program is intended as an integral component of the overall LSCSC education process in an effort to direct students away from drug and alcohol abuse and toward a healthy, safe, and drug free life. Its purpose is intended as a diagnostic aid in discovering possible drug and alcohol related problems and as an extension of our education programs. A student who has consumed alcohol or drugs is considered to present a REAL and SUBSTANTIAL THREAT to his/her own health and safety, and to the safety of others, especially within the educational environment of our schools and school activities.

    The Goals of the Random Student Drug Testing Policy are to:

    • identify a student with alcohol or drugs present in his/her body
    • provide notification to the custodial parent/guardian
    • educate, assist, and direct students away from drug and alcohol use and toward healthy, safe anddrug-free participation in activities leading toward a healthy lifestyle
    OBLIGATION TO GOVERN THE MEDICAL CONDITION OF STUDENTS

    Indiana Code 20-8.1-7 sets health measures to be governed by school officials. Most specifically, Indiana Code 20-8.1-7-2 establishes the responsibility of schools to assist children found to be ill or in need of treatment.

     

    PARTICIPANTS

    Every student in grades 6-12 intending to take part in any extra-curricular/co-curricular activity or driving to school must sign and submit the LSCSC consent form to participate in the Random Student Drug Testing Policy. The extra-curricular/co-curricular activity programs are an integral part of the LSCSC student experience. It is a privilege offered to students and necessitates that students meet the high standards set by the LSCSC. Driving to school is also a privilege granted to students under conditions that include operating the vehicle in a safe and legal manner. If selected, students shall submit to the LSCSC testing process or privileges will be revoked.

    Who does the policy include?

    • Students who drive to school
    • Student athletes
    • Students who participate in extracurricular/co-curricular activities
    • Any other student whose parents wish to enroll them in the program
    Each year, students will be provided with an educational program to prepare them  for participating in the Random Student Drug Testing Policy when they enter the 6th grade at Edison Jr. Sr. High School.

     

    ENROLLMENT

    1. Enrollment for the drug testing pool must be completed within the first five days of the current school year.

    2. Once enrolled in the LSCSC Random Student Drug Testing Policy, the student will remain enrolled for the duration of their time at LSCSC.

    3. Current or future student drivers must be enrolled in the pool before they receive a parking permit.
      EXAMPLE: A student who receives his/her driving license in the spring must enroll in the Lake Station Community Schools Drug and Alcohol Random Testing Program during the initial enrollment period. He/She must be in the testing pool for the entire school year.
    1. All forms for new students at LSCSC will be signed during the enrollment New students must decide to enroll in the program within five school days of registration.

    2. Enrollment in the pool after the deadline will be allowed with a negative test furnished at the parent/ student expense. Testing is performed by North Shore Health Clinic, located at Edison Jr-Sr High School. The expense is approximately $35 dollars. 
      EXAMPLE: A student who is not enrolled but wishes to join an activity after the initial enrollment period must furnish a negative test at parent/student expense. The student will remain enrolled in the LSCSC Random Student Drug Testing Program.

    Self-Reporting. Any student who self-reports for use/abuse in violation of applicable school drug/alcohol policies will be referred to an alcohol and drug abuse program at the expense of the parent. Documentation of enrollment and/or ongoing treatment in a certified counseling program and successful completion must be presented to the building principal. Refusal to follow the above procedure will be treated as a first offense/positive test. The next offense or positive test will count as a second offense/positive test.

    Refusals. A refusal to provide a specimen is a violation of the Random Student Drug Testing Policy and will result in the same consequences as a second positive test. A decision of the testing staff as to whether the student is unable or is refusing to provide a specimen may be appealed to the building principal and that decision may be appealed to the LSCSC Superintendent. The decision of the LSCSC Superintendent shall be final.

    Drugs that may be included, but not limited to, in the screening process are:

    Amphetamines, Barbiturates, Benzodiazepines, Cocaine, Opiates, Phencyclidine (PCP), Cannabinoids, Ethanol (Alcohol), Cotinine (Nicotine Metabolite), LSD, Anabolic Steroids, K2 Spice and/or Synthetic Cannabinoids

    In addition to testing for drugs, LSCSC will also test each sample for Creatinine. Creatinine is a chemical that is in everyone’s body. LSCSC reserves the right to retest an individual who produces a specimen with a Creatinine level of less than 0.2. (mg/ml).

     

    TEST RESULTS

    A record of all testing will be kept in a file separate from each students’ school records. This file will be destroyed after graduation.

    The LSCSC administration will contact the parent/ guardian with results if or when their child is tested.

     

    POSITIVE TEST RESULT PROCEDURE

    No individual shall be expelled or suspended from school as a result of a positive test from the Random Student Drug Testing Policy. No policy enforcement shall occur until the administration has had a conference with the parents/guardians of the student.

     

    FIRST POSITIVE TEST RESULT

    • Exclusion from participation in extra-curricular/co-curricular activities, and driving privileges for 30 consecutive calendar days. Involvement in activities over the summer will be at the discretion of the Furthermore, any exclusion not completed prior to the end of the school year will carry over to the beginning of the next school year.

    • Enter a school recommended drug treatment/counseling program at parent/student expense.

    • Return to participation in extra-curricular/co-curricular activities and reinstatement of driving privileges upon completion of all the following requirements:
      • Successfully completing a drug treatment/counseling program and shown to be non-dependent.

      • Negative drug screening test at parent/student expense. 

      • Time requirement is completed. 

    • Positive result from cotinine and nicotine metabolite will not result in loss of privileges for those 18 years of age or older. However, parents will be notified of positive test.

     

    SECOND POSITIVE TEST RESULT

    • Exclusion from participation in extra-curricular/co-curricular activities, and driving privileges for 365 calendar days. Exclusion will be carried over from one school year to the next. 

    • The same process will be followed regarding drug treatment/ counseling, return to participation/ reinstatement of privileges, and positive nicotine results for students 18 years or older as described above under the First Positive Test Result section.

     

    THIRD POSITIVE TEST RESULT

    • Exclusion from participation in extra-curricular/co-curricular activities and driving privileges for the remaining time they are a student in LSCSC
    • Any student who is under the penalty for the third violation of the substance abuse policy may request a review after 2 years by a committee composed of administration and guidance counselors. The student will present just cause for The decision of the committee must be a majority vote for reinstatement to occur. Students who are reinstated will submit to testing for drugs, alcohol, and nicotine at their personal expense. If a positive test is obtained, the student will be banned from extra-curricular/co-curricular activities and driving for the remainder of their school career.

    • Positive result from cotinine and nicotine metabolite will not result in loss of privileges for those 18 years of age or older. However, parents will be notified of positive test.
    Students who transfer to another school district while under the exclusionary period and then return to LSCSC MUST fulfill any remaining requirements of that exclusionary period.
     
    FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
    1. Under this policy, LSCSC will pay for all random drug Any “follow-up” drug test due to a positive result will be paid for by the student or his/her parent/guardian.

    2. On appeal of a “positive” urine specimen, further testing is the financial responsibility of the student or his/her parent/guardian.

    3. Counseling and subsequent treatment by non-school agencies is the financial responsibility of the student or his/her parent/guardian.

     

    CONFIDENTIALITY

    Under this drug testing program, any staff, coach or sponsor of LSCSC who may have knowledge of the results of a drug test will not divulge to anyone the results of the test or the disposition of the student involved, other than in the case of a legal subpoena being made upon that person in the course of a legal investigation. This will underscore the LSCSC commitment to confidentiality with regards to the program.

    The implementation of this program will not affect the policies, practices, or rights of the Lake Station Community Schools in dealing with drug and alcohol use where ‘reasonable suspicion’ is obtained by means other than the random sampling provided within this program.