NSU University School Student/Parent Handbook 2016-2017

Page 14 counter drugs while on school property or while participating in any school-related activity whether on or off campus at any time whether before, after, or during the school year. Any student while on school property or while participating in a school-related activity or event, on or off campus, who chooses to remain in the company of another person who is clearly using, consuming, delivering, selling, or possessing alcohol or other mind-altering substances, or abusing prescribed medication, may also be considered in violation of the policy, unless he/she is clearly intervening to prevent a problem, to assist the person in difficulty, or to get adult assistance. NSU University School reserves the right to require any student to submit to a drug and/or alcohol screening test. Such testing must be performed in accordance with the substance abuse screening protocols as administered by the School Nurse. Urine samples will be taken in a private setting by the school nurse in the nurse’s station and samples then sent to an independent third-party laboratory for testing. The results will be communicated to the school, who will subsequently communicate the results to the parents/guardian. This policy does not prohibit the proper use of medication in the prescribed dosage under the direction of a physician. However, the misuse or abuse of prescription and non-prescription drugs is prohibited. Students who are taking prescription or nonprescription drugs must notify an administrator in the School Office of this fact when they report to School. Students may not carry medications, prescription or over the counter medication on their persons; all such medications must be kept with the school nurse. There are both educational as well as disciplinary issues related to situations involving drug and alcohol abuse. It is the School’s desire to offer avenues through which students can obtain help with a substance abuse problem before finding themselves involved in a situation requiring disciplinary action because of possessing, dispensing, selling, or purchasing drugs or alcohol, or having any mood-altering substances in their body on campus or at school-sponsored events. The School’s responses to issues involving substance abuse are listed below. a. Students who are not possessing, dispensing, selling, or purchasing drugs at School and who do not have any mood-altering substances in their body, but who wish to seek help with a substance abuse problem are encouraged to contact any USchool teacher or staff member on campus with whom they feel they can talk. That individual will then help the student get in contact with the Guidance Department. Every effort will be made to get the student the assistance needed in conjunction with the Guidance Department, the parents and appropriate outside resources. Conversations with student guidance counselors are generally confidential, except when disclosure is required by law and/or professional ethical standards. Guidance counselors are required to take appropriate action, including the possibility of divulging confidential information, to prevent serious and foreseeable harm to the student or others, to prevent or remedy abuse or neglect of the student, or when required in court or in a legal proceeding. b. If a student exhibits the behaviors indicative of substance use or abuse, is suspected of substance use or abuse, o r is suspected to be in possession of or having present in his/her system alcohol or mind- altering substances while on campus or at any school-sponsored event, he/she will be escorted to the School Nurse, Assoc. Dir. for Student Life, or other Administrator or faculty member in charge for evaluation. During the period of evaluation, parents will be notified that the School will require that the student undergo immediate substance abuse testing and the student may be asked to serve a provisional suspension. During the suspension the student is responsible for all school work missed. The School will receive a copy of the drug and/or alcohol test results and will communicate these results to the parents/guardian of the student. Refusal by any student, parent, or guardian to undergo testing or to cooperate fully in any drug or alcohol related evaluation or testing (including signing consent forms) will result in the convening of a disciplinary committee to consider appropriate consequences, up to and including expulsion. If the results of the investigation and/or test results reveal a violation of this Drug Free Policy, the School will convene a disciplinary committee to consider the appropriate consequence, up to and including expulsion.