Sanger Independent School District
Drug Testing
The District requires mandatory random drug testing of any student in grades 7–12 who chooses to participate in school-sponsored, competitive, extracurricular activities or who receives a permit to park a vehicle on District property.
As stated in FNF (LOCAL) the superintendent shall develop regulations for the implementation of the District’s random student drug testing program as outlined below:
COVERED ACTIVITIES
Drug testing is required for student participation in anything designated as a competitive, extracurricular activity by the District, including, but not limited to, athletics, band, bass fishing, BPA, cheerleading, choir, FFA, FCCLA, UIL academics, UIL theater, and all UIL activities.
SCOPE
A student participating in competitive, extracurricular activities or parking a vehicle on campus shall be randomly tested for the presence of illegal drugs during the school year, or in the month of which the student begins participating in the activity or purchases a parking permit. In addition, students shall be randomly tested throughout the school year.
PURPOSE
The purposes of the drug testing program are to prevent injury, illness, and harm resulting from the use of illegal and performance-enhancing drugs; help enforce a drug-free educational environment; deter student use of illegal and performance-enhancing drugs; and educate students regarding the harm caused by the use of illegal and performance-enhancing drugs.
DISTRIBUTION OF POLICY
The District shall provide each parent and student a copy of the drug testing policy and consent form when the student begins participation in a competitive, extracurricular activity or requests a permit to park on District property. The policy and consent form will be available on the District’s website.
CONSENT
Before a student is eligible to participate in competitive, extracurricular activities, or purchase a parking permit, the student and their parent/guardian shall be required annually to sign a consent form agreeing to be subject to the rules and procedures of the drug testing program. If appropriate consent is not given, the student shall 1 not be allowed to participate in competitive, extracurricular activities or receive a permit to park a vehicle on District property.
USE OF RESULTS
Drug test results shall be used only to determine eligibility for participation in competitive, extracurricular activities and to receive a parking permit. Positive drug test results shall not be used to impose disciplinary sanctions or academic penalties. Nevertheless, nothing in this policy shall limit or affect the application of state law, local policy, or the Student Code of Conduct. A student who commits a disciplinary offense shall be subject to consequences in accordance with the Student Code of Conduct.
CONFIDENTIALITY
Drug testing results shall be confidential and shall be disclosed only to the student, the student’s parent, and designated District officials who need the information in order to administer the drug testing program. Drug test results shall not be maintained with a student’s academic record. Results shall not be otherwise disclosed except as required by law.
TESTING LABORATORY
The Board shall contract with a certified drug testing laboratory to conduct testing of students’ urine samples.
SUBSTANCES FOR WHICH TESTS ARE CONDUCTED
Testing laboratories shall not release statistics regarding the rate of positive drug tests to any person or organization without consent of the District. The District shall make available to students and parents a list of the exact substances for which tests will be conducted.
COLLECTION PROCEDURES
Personnel from the drug testing laboratory shall collect urine samples under conditions that are no more intrusive than the conditions experienced in a public restroom. When selected for testing, the student shall be escorted to the collection area by a District employee and remain under employee supervision until the student enters the collection area. Testing personnel shall supervise the collection area while the student produces a sample within a closed restroom stall. Samples shall be collected in accordance with accepted industry standards and as outlined in this policy. Once a sample is collected and the student is satisfied that the sample has been placed in a secure, sealed container, the student shall leave the collection area.
RANDOM TESTING
Random tests shall be conducted on as many as 12 dates throughout the school year. The drug testing laboratory shall use a random selection method to identify students chosen for random testing. Students shall not receive prior notice of the testing date or time.
REFUSAL TO TEST OR TAMPERING
student who refuses to be tested when selected or who is determined to have tampered with a sample shall be deemed to have a positive test result and shall be subject to the appropriate consequences.
CONFIRMATION OF POSITIVE TEST RESULTS
If a student is absent on the day of the random test, a sample shall be collected on the next random testing date. An initial positive test shall be confirmed by a second test of the same specimen before being reported as positive via a split sample. Upon receiving results of a positive drug test, the District shall schedule a meeting with the student and the student’s parent or legal guardian no later than the end of the second school day after receiving the positive results. During this meeting, the findings of the test and the expected consequences shall be discussed. The suspension period shall begin after the parent meeting, or at the end of the second school day after receiving the positive results, whichever is later.
RETESTING
If the student wishes to return to participation in competitive, extra-curricular activities, the student must agree to be tested on each random test date for the duration of the 12-month suspension.
CONSEQUENCES
The appropriate suspension period for a positive drug test shall begin after the parent meeting required in this policy, or at the end of the second school day after receiving the positive results, whichever is later. Consequences of positive test results shall be cumulative through the student’s enrollment in the District.
FIRST OFFENSE
Upon a first offense of receiving a confirmed positive drug test, a student shall be suspended from any competitive, extracurricular activity and parking on campus for 14 school days following the date the student and parent are notified of the test results. In addition, the student shall meet with his or her school counselor to develop a plan of action. During the period of suspension, the student shall not be permitted to participate in practices.
SECOND OFFENSE
Upon a second offense of receiving a confirmed positive drug test, a student shall be suspended from any competitive, extracurricular activity and parking on campus for 90 school days following the date the student and parent are notified of the test results. In addition, the student shall meet with his or her school counselor for nine sessions during the 90-day suspension, and shall complete a four-hour course on drug awareness and provide documentation of completion. During the period of suspension, the student shall not be permitted to participate in practices.
THIRD OFFENSE
Upon a third offense of receiving a confirmed positive drug test, a student shall be suspended from any competitive, extracurricular activity and driving on campus for one calendar year following the date the student and parent are notified of the test results. In addition, the student shall provide documentation that he or she has completed a District counseling program on drug abuse and drug awareness. During the period of suspension, the student shall not be permitted to participate in practices.
FOURTH OFFENSE
Upon a fourth offense of receiving a confirmed positive drug test, a student shall be suspended from participation in any competitive, extracurricular activity for the remainder of his or her enrollment in the District.
END-OF-SEMESTER SUSPENSION
If a student’s suspension from participation is not completed by the end of the semester, the student shall complete the assigned period of suspension during the following semester or during the first semester of the following school year.
WITHDRAW AND RETURN TO SANGER ISD If a student’s suspension is not completed when they withdraw from Sanger ISD and the student returns to Sanger ISD, the student shall complete the assigned period of suspension during the first semester of the following school year.
APPEAL
A student or parent may appeal a decision made under this policy in accordance with FNG(LOCAL). The student shall be ineligible for participation in extracurricular activities while the appeal is pending.