Extracurricular Activity Eligibility Random Drug Testing
Administrative Procedure
West Central CUSD #235
Extracurricular Activity Eligibility Random Drug Testing
Administrative Procedure
Philosophy/Purpose
The Board of Education believes that the use of prohibited substances: alcohol, tobacco, or illegal drugs including performance enhancing drugs by students who participate in extracurricular activities presents a particular hazard to the health, safety, and welfare of students and those who compete with the student. The Board encourages students to participate in extracurricular activities, but believes the opportunity to try out for and participate in school sponsored activities is a privilege and not a right. To be eligible to try out for, or to participate in any extracurricular activities, students must agree to submit to testing for the use of prohibited substances, if selected, in accordance with this policy.
This policy has been adopted by the Board of Education of West Central CUSD #235 and applies to all students who participate in extracurricular activities in grades 6-12. This policy is in addition to the West Central CUSD #235 Extracurricular Code of Conduct and all other policies regarding student conduct.
The District recognizes that there is a high incidence of alcohol and drug abuse by students nationwide. The District also recognizes that some West Central students, and in particular, participants in extracurricular activities have used alcohol and have or will experiment with illegal drugs, alcohol, and/or tobacco during their high school years. Because participants in extracurricular activities are especially respected and looked up to by the student body, our community and the communities we compete in. They are expected to be good examples of conduct, sportsmanship, and training, which include abstaining from the use of drugs, alcohol, and tobacco. Moreover, participants in extracurricular activities who use drugs can be a danger to himself/herself or others, both in and out of the extracurricular activity.
In order to provide for the health and safety of the individual participant and other extracurricular participants, as well as, provide a legitimate reason for the students to say “NO” to drug use, and to provide an opportunity for those taking drugs to receive help in locating programs which can provide assistance, the District is conducting a random drug testing program for extracurricular participants. The program is not punitive. It is designed to prevent drug, alcohol, and tobacco usage, to educate student extracurricular participants as to the serious physical, mental, and emotion harm caused by drug, alcohol, and tobacco use/abuse, to create and maintain a safe, drug free, environment for student athletes and to assist them in getting help when needed.
The purpose of this policy is to deter the use of prohibited substances, not to provide a means which the district may punish a student other than by disqualification from participation in extracurricular activities. Accordingly, the results of any drug test administered under this policy shall be used only for determination of eligibility to try out for and participate in extracurricular activities and for no other disciplinary purpose.
Definitions
A. Extracurricular Activities
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School sponsored activities outside the regular school day, conducted by and representing West Central CUSD #235 where participation is voluntary, no academic credit or grades are awarded, and are competitive in nature in grades
6- 12, including but not limited to the following list of extracurricular activities: Interscholastic Athletics, FFA, Speech, Scholastic Bowl Team, Cheerleading, Pom Pon, WYSE, ICTM, and Science Olympiad.
B. Extracurricular Participant
Any student who is trying out for or participating in any school sponsored extracurricular activity. Should any student be unsuccessful in trying out for a given activity and not choosing to be involved in any other activity for the remainder of the school year, parents should send a letter so indicating and requesting the removal of the student’s name from the random list.
C. Alcohol
Any liquor, wine, beer, and other drink containing alcohol.
D. Illegal Drugs
Any substance considered illegal or controlled by the Food and Drug Administration.
E. Tobacco
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Any tobacco product including but not limited to cigarettes, cigars, smokeless tobacco, or pipe tobacco.
F. Self-Referral
Process of a student coming forward, voluntarily, seeking help for a problem with an illegal drug, alcohol or tobacco. This is done before a violation of the Extracurricular Code has been verified by notifying staff or administration.
G. Testing Cycle
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Time period for random tests is determined by the District and Testing Organization. Cycles may be weekly, monthly, quarterly, or by semester.
H. Dilute Specimen
Specimen with a specific gravity of less than .023. Individual has more fluids in their body limiting the testing ability of the sample.
I. Testing Organization
Organization selected by the Board of Education to conduct the random drug testing program and all required testing activities and/or tasks.
J. School Year
For the purpose of this policy, the school year will begin on the Wednesday of week 6 of the IHSA calendar until week 49 of the IHSA calendar for high school students. Middle school students will start on Monday of week 4 of the IHSA calendar and conclude on week 47 of the IHSA calendar.
Consent Form
To try out for or to participate in any school sponsored extracurricular activities, the student must read this policy and sign a consent by which the student agrees that as a condition of participation in extracurricular activities, he/she will consent to the drug testing program outlined in this procedure. This consent form must also be signed by the student’s parents or guardians at the beginning of the school year prior to tryouts for a specific activity. Students deciding to participate in an extracurricular activity after the first sign-up deadline will be required to be tested after the signed consent form is returned. This testing will occur on the next scheduled test date and the extracurricular participant will then remain eligible for random testing for the remainder of the school year.
Withdrawal of Consent
Consent for participation may be withdrawn under the following conditions:
1. Student fails to make the team/activity under tryout procedures outlined.
2. Senior student will not be participating in any additional qualified extracurricular activities for the remainder of his/her school career.
3. Parents must submit written request for withdrawal of consent indicating intentions in #2 above.
4. Withdrawal of consent must be sent to the appropriate building principal who will verify student is no longer participating in any qualified extracurricular event.
Should the student elect to resume participation in any qualified activity again in his/her school career, the student will be required to be tested on the next scheduled test date prior to activity tryout or participation.
Noncompliance
If the extracurricular participant, his/her parents or guardians refuse to sign the consent form, the student will not be permitted to be a member of the activity until such consent form is signed. Also, if the extracurricular participant refuses to be tested or does not complete the test as instructed, the extracurricular participant will be considered in violation of this policy
Confidentiality
The results of any test administrated under the terms of this policy shall be kept confidential and disclosed only to the extracurricular participant, his/her parent or guardian, and school officials designated by the Superintendent. The results of the testing shall not be used as a basis for any disciplinary action other than disqualification as provided for in the West Central CUSD #235 Extracurricular Code of Conduct. The test results will not be part of the extracurricular participant permanent record, but will be kept in a secure file in the school office. The results for testing, negative or positive, will be kept until the student graduates. At that time all results/records of this policy, related to individual students will be destroyed.
Under this drug testing program, no staff, coach, or sponsor shall divulge any information to anyone about a particular student or disposition of the student involved, other than by order of a court of competent jurisdiction.
Random Selection of Extracurricular Participants for Testing
At the beginning of each school year, each extracurricular participant shall be assigned a number by the Superintendent or his/her designee. The selection of numbers will be made by the Testing Organization. The numbers will be computer generated. Students will be eligible for random testing starting on the Wednesday of week 6 of the IHSA calendar until week 49 of the IHSA calendar for high school students. Middle school students will start on Monday of week 4 of the IHSA calendar and conclude on week 47 of the IHSA calendar.
Notification of Extracurricular Participant Selection/Absence
The selected extracurricular participants will be notified to report to the principal’s office as needed on test day. The student will then be escorted to the test site. If the student is absent from school with an unexcused absence and the absence is not cleared within 48 hours, than the student must make up the test on their own at their own expense if the test is positive. If the make up test is negative, the district will pay the cost of the make up test.
If the absence is excused, the student will remain eligible for practice and competition, but will automatically be tested on the next date. After testing an extracurricular participant’s number will be returned to the testing population and subject to reselection during the next testing cycle. Extracurricular participants will be subject to random testing throughout the school year.
Self Referral
Student self referral is a process designed to allow a student to recognize a prohibited substance problem and bring it to the attention of staff or administration. Under the Extracurricular Code of Conduct a student receives a reduction in consequence for self referring, but must receive a substance assessment and/or counseling.
Under the random drug testing policy self referrals are still available. However, once a student is selected by number/name for testing, a self referral is no longer an option. Second or any subsequent self referrals will be reviewed individually with regard to the basis for self referral and Extracurricular Code of Conduct. This review will be conducted by the Policy Committee of the Board of Education and/or the full Board of Education.
Student Transfers
A student transferring to West Central CUSD #235 schools, grades 6 -12, will be provided a copy of this policy/procedure. Transfer students and parents will be given a reasonable period of time (not to exceed 5 school days) to determine whether or not the student intends to participate in extracurricular activities. If, within the period of time given, the consent form is signed appropriately, the student’s name will be added to the random list. If a decision is made to participate after the original timeline for a consent, the student will automatically be tested on the next scheduled test date, prior to activity tryout or participation.
Program Details
Testing Procedures
1. Superintendent or designee shall assign a number to each extracurricular participant on a random basis and shall develop a master list of assigned numbers. The testing Organization shall then, from time-to-time throughout the school year, randomly select extracurricular participants for drug, alcohol and/or tobacco testing from the pool of numbers submitted by the Superintendent or designee. Testing may occur on any school attendance day. Each student participant may be tested at any time during the year.
2. No student will be given advance notice or early warning of the testing.
3. Drug, alcohol and/or tobacco testing may be performed by breath alcohol testing and/or urinalysis. Upon being selected for breath alcohol testing, a student must provide an adequate amount of breath so that measuring device can measure any alcohol concentration in the breath. Upon being selected for a urinalysis test, the student shall provide a sample of “fresh” urine according to the quality control standards and policy of the collection facility conducting the urinalysis.
4. A member of the Testing Organization will accompany the student until he or she produces an adequate, verifiable urine specimen. The student will not be under direct visual observation while providing the sample, unless there is a reason to believe the extracurricular participant will alter or substitute the specimen to be provided. If unable to produce a specimen, the student will be given up to 40 ounces of fluid. If unable to produce a specimen within 2 hours, the student will be taken to the Building Principal’s Office and told he/she is ineligible for participation in any extracurricular activity. In addition, the parent(s)/guardian(s) will be telephoned and informed the student is unable to produce a sample for the testing procedure and he/she must be tested at a later date in order to be eligible.
5. Any specimen determined by the collecting agency to be adulterated (tampered with) or not belonging to the student being tested shall be considered as a positive test sample.
6. Immediately after the specimen is taken, the student may return to class with an admit slip or pass with the time he/she left the collection site.
7. Each specimen is given to the laboratory for testing for alcohol, tobacco, or controlled substances ( which may include all drugs listed as controlled substances under Illinois law, or defined by the Food and Drug Administration), and “performance enhancing” drugs, such as steroids on a suspicion only basis.
Chain-of-Custody
1. The testing organization will provide appropriately trained staff members, set up the collection environment, guarantee specimens, and supervise the chain-of-custody.
2. A District or testing organization staff member will escort students to the collection site. No student is allowed to go to his or her locker. The staff member should minimize classroom interruptions. Athletes may be called after school, perhaps during practice time.
3. Before a student’s urine is tested by the laboratory, he or she must sign any form that may be required by the testing laboratory. If a student chooses, he or she may notify the administrator that he/she is taking a prescription medication.
4. A sanitized kit containing a specimen bottle will be given to each student. The bottle will remain in the student’s possession until a seal is placed upon the bottle and the student signs that the specimen is sealed. The seal may be broken only by the lab testing specimen.
5. If the seal is tampered with or broken, after leaving the student’s possession and prior to arriving at the lab, the specimen is invalid. The student will remain eligible for extracurricular activities subsequent to a retest.
6. The testing organization staff member will obtain the urine specimen. Students will be instructed to remove all coats and wash their hands in the presence of the staff member before entering the restroom stall. The stall door/curtain will be closed while student provides a urine specimen. The staff member will wait outside the restroom stall/curtain. The commode will contain a blue dye so the water cannot be used to dilute the sample. The faucets in the restroom will be shut off, and sealed with evidence tape. All garbage containers will be removed from the restroom stall.
7. After it is sealed, the specimen will be transported to the testing laboratory by testing organization personnel. The testing organization will report the results to the Building Principal or designee.
Testing Results
1. The Forensics Laboratory will notify the testing organization of a positive test that shows the drug residues are in the student’s system after using at least two different types of analysis. The Medical Review Officer (MRO) –a physician- of the testing organization will notify the student’s parent/guardian of the results of a possible positive drug screen. The student or his/her parent/guardian may submit any documented prescription or explanation of a positive test result. The MRO will discuss any possible physical/medical history with parent/guardian. If such a condition/history exists, within the physician’s guidelines, he will deem the drug screen negative. When no condition/history exists in the physician’s guidelines, he will deem the drug screen positive. The results of the drug screen will be given to the school district’s designated confidential contact. The Building Principal or designee will notify the students and his or her parent/guardian of confirmed test results and any effects on student’s eligibility status.
If the testing organization and MRO are unable to reach the parent/guardian after three documented attempts, the school district’s designated confidential contact will be notified to have the parent/guardian call to speak with the Medical Review Officer to complete the verification of the positive drug screen.
Breath alcohol positive tests are confirmed at the time of the testing with a second test. Results are given immediately to the school district’s designated contact.
2. In addition, the student or parent/guardian may request that the split sample of the original urine specimen be tested again by a certified laboratory at the parent/guardian cost. Only the original sample will be retested. This request should be made within twenty-four (24) hours of the notification of the first positive test results to have the specimen tested. The testing organization can request the testing laboratory to send the specimen to another certified lab. The request must be made by the Medical Review Officer (MRO) to the testing laboratory upon request of the parent/guardian to the MRO. The family cannot directly contact the testing laboratories, as this would break the confidentiality of the specimen being tested. The testing organization will bill the family for the cost of the split specimen analysis. Should the test be confirmed as positive, and there is not a satisfactory explanation for the positive results, the student will be considered to be in violation of the Code of Conduct. If it is determined by mutual consent of both testing facilities that the first test was invalid, the parent will be reimbursed the cost of the retest. The student will be reinstated if the test is determined valid.
3. If the test is verified “positive,” the Building Principal or designee will meet with the student and his or her parent/guardian. The student and parent/guardian will be given the names of counseling and assistance agencies. The student may not participate in extracurricular activities until the required “follow-up” test is completed.
4. A “follow-up” test may be required after the suspension period is served or after such an interval of time that the substance previously found would normally be eliminated from the body, whichever comes first. The testing organization will be contacted to set up the “follow-up” test. If this “follow-up” test is negative, the student will be allowed to resume extracurricular activities. If a “positive” result is obtained from the “follow-up” test, or any later test, it will be considered a subsequent violation. In addition, the School District reserves the right to continue testing at any time during the remaining school year, any participating student who had a verified “positive” test.
5. In case of a positive test, the coach or sponsor shall not be directly informed of specific results; they shall only be notified of the student’s eligibility status. The results of “negative” tests will be kept confidential.
6. Drug testing results sheets will be available to the Building Principal or designee. Names will not be kept in open files or on any computer. Result sheets will be locked and secured in a location to which only the Building Principal or designee had access.
Financial Responsibility
1. Under this policy, the School District will pay for all initial drug tests and all “follow-up” drug tests, requested by the District, if student signs up by the fall deadline.
2. Students deciding to participate in an extracurricular activity after the first sign-up deadline will be required to be tested after the signed consent form is returned. The cost of this test would be the financial responsibility of the student’s parent-guardian.
3. A request for another test of a split sample specimen is the financial responsibility of the student’s parent/guardian.
4. Counseling and subsequent treatment by non-school agencies is the financial responsibility of the student or the student’s parent/guardian.
Other Rules
Apart from this drug testing program, the Illinois High School Association/Illinois Elementary School Association, as well as, each activity’s coaching staff or sponsor may have their own training rules and requirements. Coaches and sponsors have the necessary authority to enforce those rules. Any student participant who violates a team or activity rule or requirement, is subject to the consequences as defined in those rules and requirements.
Testing Negative
The parents or guardians of the extracurricular participant, who tests negative, will be notified by mail as soon as practical, of the district’s receipt of the information.
Testing Positive
If the test results are positive, the extracurricular participant will be considered in violation of West Central CUSD #235 Athletic/Extracurricular Policies. The student and parents will be notified as soon as practical. The consequences of this violation are outlined in the Athletic/Extracurricular Policies in the school handbook.
Enforcement
The provisions of this policy are considered an addition to all other rules and regulations governing student conduct and discipline in extracurricular activities.
Expenses
Funding for this program will be by Board of Education action.
