STUDENTS
ALCOHOL AND DRUGS
513
POLICY
It is the policy of the Board to prohibit the possession and use of alcohol and drugs by
all members of the school community including students, parents or guardians, staff and
volunteers while on Board property and school busses, and while attending school and
board-sponsored events. The Board will discourage and reduce the use of alcohol and
drugs by students through the Ontario Curriculum and its expectations, the promotion of
healthy lifestyles, and the provision of appropriate early and ongoing interventions. The
Board supports the administration of disciplinary action for students in accordance with
its policies and procedures, and the Education Act and its Regulations.
Administrative Detail
1.
It is the responsibility of the appropriate superintendents to implement this
policy.
2.
It is the responsibility of Principals to administer this policy in accordance
with the Alcohol and Drugs Procedures Manual # 513 –A.
3.
It is the responsibility of Principals to publicize this policy and its
procedures to all members of the school community including staff,
volunteers, students and parents on an annual basis.
4.
It is the responsibility of Principals to orient staff to the procedures related
to disciplinary action and steps that must be taken in any related situation.
5.
In accordance with the Ontario Schools Code of Conduct all members of
the school community including staff, volunteers, students, parents or
guardians, must not be in possession of, or under the influence of, or
provide others with, alcohol or illegal drugs while on Board property or
participating in school and Board-sponsored events.
6.
This policy applies to day students who also register as Continuing
Education students.
7.
This policy operates in conjunction with: Board policies #213 Code of
Conduct, #200 Community Use of Schools, #204 Transportation, #504
Suspension of Pupils, #515 Expulsion of Pupils, #302 Violence-Free
Schools, #104 Unauthorized Visitors, the Police–School Board Protocol
and other relevant Board polices and procedures; the Ontario Schools
Code of Conduct; the Education Act and its Regulations; and other
relevant provincial and federal legislation.
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STUDENTS
A.
B.
ALCOHOL AND DRUGS
PROCEDURES MANUAL
513-A
GENERAL
1.
The Board recognizes that the consumption of alcohol and drugs by
students can impair their health and welfare and can interfere with their
ability to learn and to function in society. In addition, the Board
acknowledges that students who are under the influence of alcohol or
drugs who attend school or school sponsored functions interfere with the
legitimate academic and co-instructional interests of other students and
staff.
2.
The Board is opposed to the use of drugs to improve athletic performance
or enhance appearance since they result in unequal and unsafe sports
competition.
3.
This policy specifies three (3) of the ways by which schools will address
the use of alcohol and drugs by its students:
a)
the availability of a curriculum designed to prevent alcohol and drug
problems;
b)
the identification of, and early intervention into, problems among
students for whom preventive efforts have been unsuccessful, and
c)
the administration of fair and equitable disciplinary action with the
goal of protecting the health and safety of all students by deterring
students from using alcohol or drugs including tobacco and tobacco
products.
EXPLANATION OF TERMS
1.
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The term “drug” refers to drugs other than alcohol and tobacco, and
includes illicit drugs, inhalants, and prescription drugs used without the
authority of a physician. “Illicit drug” means a controlled substance or
precursor, the import, export, production, sale or possession of which is
prohibited or restricted pursuant to the Controlled Drugs and Substances
Act. It does not include drugs prescribed by a physician or over-thecounter medications used with the permission of a parent or legal
guardian.
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C.
ALCOHOL AND DRUGS
PROCEDURES MANUAL
513-A
2.
The term “designated staff person” as used in this Policy, refers to
teaching or administrative staff with specific responsibilities for discipline,
and/or counselling.
3.
The term “under the influence” refers to the state of an individual who has
consumed alcohol or drugs in a time span that may affect his present
behaviour.
4.
The term tobacco products refers to tobacco and any processed or
unprocessed form that may be smoked, inhaled or chewed, including
snuff, but does not apply to products intended for use in nicotine therapy.
PREVENTIVE CURRICULUM
1.
The goal of the Board is to reduce the incidence of tobacco and alcohol
and other drug-related problems through the use of the Ontario Curriculum
Expectations and associated activities that assist students with healthy
lifestyle decisions.
2.
The curriculum extends from the primary level through the senior divisions
and is available in the schools and on the Ministry of Education website at:
www.edu.gov.on.ca.
3.
The Board will provide and endorse additional resources to supplement
the Ministry curriculum.
4.
Schools are encouraged to reinforce preventative programs by:
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a)
offering consistent messages and warnings to students about the
use of tobacco, alcohol and drugs;
b)
sponsoring special events dedicated to student awareness of
healthy life styles;
c)
promoting the involvement of students in dedicated organizations
such as (Ontario Students Against Impaired Driving – O.S.A.I.D.)
and
d)
providing special assemblies, field trips and theatrical performances
designed to encourage healthy lifestyle choices.
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D.
E.
ALCOHOL AND DRUGS
PROCEDURES MANUAL
513-A
5.
The implementation of these programs will be under the direction of the
Principal and supported by appropriate in-service events.
6.
A prevention program is offered in the senior elementary and secondary
school physical and health education program to discourage the use of
sports performance and/or appearance enhancing drugs.
7.
The Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations’ unit which deals
with performance and/or appearance enhancement through drug abuse
entitled ‘Strong and Clean” may be used as the basis of the prevention
program.
EARLY INTERVENTION INTO ALCOHOL AND DRUG PROBLEMS
1.
Despite the preventive intent of the curriculum, some students will develop
alcohol and drug-related problems or may choose to consume tobacco
products. Consistent with the Board’s concern for the health, social and
personal well-being of its students, an early intervention strategy will be
encouraged, and supported, to identify and determine students’ problems
and to provide appropriate counselling and referral service.
2.
Teachers and other school staff are required to report students who they
suspect of using alcohol or drugs, to the Principal, Vice-Principal,
guidance counsellor, or child and youth worker.
3.
Parents may also request that guidance or a child and youth worker
intervene where they suspect that their child may have issues with alcohol
or drugs.
4.
Principal, Vice-Principal, guidance counsellor, or child and youth worker
may consult with the Homewood Community Alcohol and Drug Services
(CADS) counsellor for advice on referral of the student.
5.
Referral to the CADS counsellor should be considered following
disciplinary action related to an infraction under this policy.
DISCIPLINARY ACTION
Students, regardless of age, who commit the following infractions on school
property or at Board-sponsored events, will be deemed to be in breach of this
policy and subject to the disciplinary action indicated on the “Administrative
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ALCOHOL AND DRUGS
PROCEDURES MANUAL
513-A
Procedure Reference Charts 513-1 and 513-2. However, Principals may choose
not to suspend in cases where “mitigating circumstances” as defined in the
Suspension of Pupils Policy (#504) apply.
1.
F.
Violations of Board Policy can occur in nine (9) ways:
i)
use or possession of alcohol;
ii)
use of inhalants for the purpose of intoxication;
iii)
use or possession of illicit drugs including any quantity of
marijuana;
iv)
being under the influence of alcohol or illicit drugs;
v)
trafficking or distribution of non-prescription or prescription drugs;
vi)
giving alcohol to a minor;
vii)
use or possession of tobacco by students, except the lawful
possession of tobacco and tobacco products by secondary
students;
viii)
smoking on school property, or
ix)
the use of performance or appearance enhancing drugs;
RESPONSE TO VIOLATIONS
In response to violations of this Board Policy the following disciplinary actions will
be guided by the attached chart.
G.
FURTHER DISCIPLINARY ACTION
1.
The Principal may impose more severe sanctions in consultation with the
Superintendent of Education if students have two (2) or more infractions.
These may include additional suspensions of up to twenty (20) days, and
the initiation of expulsion proceedings. Three (3) considerations will be
taken into account:
i)
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indications that the student will continue using alcohol or drugs;
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Note:
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ALCOHOL AND DRUGS
PROCEDURES MANUAL
513-A
ii)
lack of serious concern on the part of the students about the
consequences of alcohol or drug use; and
iii)
the level of disruption imposed on other students, school staff, and
the educational process.
The imposition of severe sanctions would be justified by an unfavourable
assessment in any of the three (3) areas of consideration.
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