BISHOP MCGUINNESS CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL
DRUG AND ALCOHOL POLICY
Providing a safe school environment and, at the same time, promoting an atmosphere of health and wellness is critical to the philosophy and overall mission of Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School. As part of this mission, it is imperative that students and parents fully understand the consequences for drug and alcohol use, abuse and/or distribution. The guidelines outlined below provide a way for the school to minister to its students and families by offering maximum support while maintaining a “No Tolerance” commitment to the community.
In light of this commitment, students attending Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School will be subject to:
1.Random drug and/or alcohol testing, and
2.Upon reasonable suspicion, may be required by the school to undergo such testing.
3.Providence Canine Services has been employed by the school in an effort to deter students from bringing illegal substances onto campus. Students found to be in possession of illegal substances are subject to all Drug/Alcohol First Offense Consequences.
The cost of the random testing will be absorbed by the school while the cost of reasonable suspicion testing will be the responsibility of the parent/guardian.
Random Testing
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• Collection Process
If selected, a student is required to provide a urine specimen at the designated BMCHS collection site. Upon arrival, cell phones will be collected and students will be asked to turn their pockets inside out during testing. Once pulled from class, the student must stay in the designated area until testing is successfully completed. If a student leaves the testing area, the test will be assumed positive.
Students have two hours from the time of check-in to produce a valid specimen and may have a maximum of 24 ounces of water. If a student does not produce a specimen within two hours, the test will be assumed positive. A parent will be notified that the student is required to re-test at St. Anthony Hospital’s collection lab, located at 608 NW 9th Street, Suite 3106 in Oklahoma City within 48 hours of original attempt. A parent MUST be present during this lab procedure.
A collected specimen must register a temperature no less than 91 and no more than 99 degrees. If the specimen is not within temperature range, another specimen will be collected. If the second specimen collected is not within temperature range, it will be assumed positive.
There can be no evidence of tampering ie: no unusual smell or appearance. If a sample shows evidence of tampering, a second specimen will be collected. If the second specimen collected still indicates evidence of tampering, a parent will be called and instructed to pick-up their son/daughter and proceed directly to the St. Anthony Hospital’s collection lab. A parent MUST be present during this lab procedure.
If a *dilute sample result is received from the lab, a parent will be called and instructed to pick-up their son/daughter and proceed directly to St. Anthony’s collection lab. A parent MUST be present during this lab procedure. If a second result is dilute, it will be an assumed positive.
*Too much water consumed prior to collection.
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• Consequences of a Non-Negative Random Test
All test results are kept in the strictest of confidence between the testing agency, the school’s Health and Wellness Counselor and the principal. The parent/guardian of a student is notified by the testing agency’s Medical Review Officer if their student’s test results are determined to be non-negative. The school is only notified once it has been determined that non-negative results are caused by something other than prescribed medication. Any student who has a positive test result is subject to the following consequences.
1.A drug/alcohol dependency assessment and consultation. The assessment must be completed within 2 weeks of request. A parent is required to participate in the assessment.
2.Meeting/s with Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School Health and Wellness Counselor to ensure that step one is being followed and to determine if additional counseling is warranted 90 days from confirmation of a non-negative random drug test.
3.Student will be randomly tested a minimum of three times within 90 days of confirmation of a non-negative random drug test. The student must test within 48 hours of the request. Providing the final test is negative, the student’s name will be returned to the student pool for random testing.
4.If the student’s final test is determined to be non-negative by the Medical Review Officer, he/she will be subject to first offense consequences listed under reasonable suspicion.
5.If a student is involved in athletics at the time they receive a non-negative test result, they will be required to obtain a doctor’s release in a prescribed time as designated by the Wellness Counselor before resuming activity.
6.Expenses for any above-mentioned items will be the responsibility of the parent/guardian.
7.Attendance at appropriate Chance to Change Drug/Alcohol education courses when required.
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• Reasonable Suspicion Testing
Reasonable suspicion is a logical conclusion based on experiences, observation and first hand knowledge of a student’s appearance, speech and/or behavior resulting in a sincere concern that a student may be involved with drugs and/or alcohol.
The following penalties apply to students who are under the influence or in possession of drugs/alcohol during a school day, on school grounds or during a school sponsored activity. Any student required by the school to take a drug test based on reasonable suspicion, and the results are determined to be non-negative by the testing agency, is subject to the penalties listed below.
• Drug/Alcohol First Offense Consequences
1. Ordinarily, a two-day out of school suspension.
2.Drug/Alcohol dependency assessment and consultation. A parent is required to participate in the assessment.
3.Urine Drug Test at a location designated by the school.
4.Attendance at appropriate Chance To Change Drug/Alcohol education courses when recommended.
5.Suspension from all school extra-curricular activities for 15 days.
6.For a student to be re-admitted to Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School, he or she will be placed on a disciplinary contract for the remainder of the semester in which the offense occurred as well as the next semester. Any student on contract for substance use or possession can be required to be tested at any time during the term of the contract. Expenses for any of the above mentioned items will be the responsibility of the parent.
• Drug/Alcohol Second Offense Consequences
Repeat offense of the drug and alcohol policy at Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School places the student in serious jeopardy of being able to remain a student at the school. The administration will meet with the student and parents to determine the nature of the offense and the subsequent action. If the student is allowed to return, he/she will be placed on contract for the entire time he/she remains enrolled at the school. The contract will include, but will not be limited to regular drug testing, counseling with documentation and suspension from extra-curricular activities for no less than 30 days.
•Drug/Alcohol Policy at School Sponsored Events
The school reserves the right to randomly test all students at all school activities. If found in violation of the Drug/Alcohol Policy, the student’s parents will be immediately notified and level consequences will be applied.
