brecksville middle school

TOBACCO/ALCOHOL/DRUG POLICY FOR EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES AND INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETICS

Statement of Philosophy
The Board of Education, administrators, athletic department and activity advisors of the Brecksville-Broadview Heights City Schools consider participation in extracurricular activities and interscholastic athletics to be a privilege, not a right. Students are VOLUNTEERING to participate in these programs and are expected to accept the responsibilities granted them by this privilege.

As representatives of our school district, students involved in extracurricular activities and interscholastic athletics are scrutinized by the public, become role models for young children and peers, and are ambassadors to our community. In choosing to accept this role, participants also choose the responsibilities of living a tobacco, alcohol and drug free lifestyle. Although this policy outlines the expectations and consequences required of students choosing to participate in extracurricular activities and interscholastic athletics, the parent(s) or guardian(s) retain the ultimate responsibility of promoting healthy lifestyle choices for their children and are encouraged to work cooperatively with school officials to support these ideals throughout the child’s entire educational experience in the Brecksville-Broadview Heights Schools.

In keeping with the philosophy of education, the Board of Education, administrators, athletic department and activity advisors of Brecksville-Broadview Heights City School District view tobacco, alcohol and drug use not only as a violation of the law, but as a problematic behavior which has an adverse effect on individuals and the programs in which they are involved. It is the intent, therefore, to support a disciplinary program that encourages students to recognize and deal with the causes for their use through contact with the appropriate agency (CAPA, private counselors, treatment facilities, etc.) rather than being strictly punitive in nature.

This policy will be in effect during the entire calendar year, inclusive of all training, conditioning, practices, or other school related/sponsored activities, and the policy remains in effect 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (24/7—365 days).

Tobacco and Tobacco Products, Alcohol and Drugs Possession and/or Use of Tobacco and Tobacco Products, Alcohol or Drugs

In accordance with the rules of Brecksville-Broadview Heights City School District, except for supervised medications prescribed by a physician, a student under the influence, using, possessing, buying or receiving tobacco in any form (cigarettes, cigars, snuff, dip, chewing tobacco, clove cigarettes, etc.), drugs (narcotics, hallucinogenics, intoxicants, counterfeits, look-alikes, designers), anabolic steroids, controlled substances and alcohol at any time and at any place is in violation of the code and, if apprehended by school or appropriate law enforcement personnel, is subject to the following consequences:

First Violation - The first-time offender will be denied participation in all extracurricular and/or athletic programs for one full calendar year from the date of violation. If the student agrees to schedule himself/herself into and complete the first available school Insight Program, the term of denial will be up to 20% of the activity time for extracurriculars or up to 20% of scheduled competition time for athletes in any sport in which the students participate. Upon completion of the program, the student must be willing to follow the recommendations provided. If no school Insight Program or Tobacco Education Group approved by the advisor/athletic department and school administrator is presently available, the student's parents may choose, at their own expense, to enroll the student in an outside school-approved program. Completion of the program is mandatory.

For a student involved in extracurricular activities, up to 20% of the activity time is imposed from the time the advisor has notified the student of probation. If the offense occurs late in the school year, the denial to participate may, if necessary, be carried over into the next school year's extracurricular participation. The term of denied participation is determined by the building administrator and extracurricular advisor.

For athletes, a full season is defined as including all the contests scheduled for a specific sport. Should the offense occur in mid-season, the denial to participate may, if necessary, be carried over into the next seasonal sport that the athlete participates in. The number of contests to be missed will be determined by the athletic director, building administrator and athlete's coach.

Second Violation - A second offense during the student's high school career will result in denial of participation in all extracurricular and/or athletic programs for one full calendar year from the date of violation. The second-time offender may reduce that denial to participate to one-half of the school year for extracurriculars or to one full season for athletes after completing a professional assessment and complying with the recommendations made by the assessing agency .The assessing agency must be chosen by agreement between the parents of the student and the school administration with assistance from the CAPA Coordinator.

Violations Beyond a Second Offense - Additional violations of the alcohol/drug policy past the stipulated number of incidents will result in permanent denial to participate in any extracurricular and/or athletic programs until the offender has successfully completed a treatment program which is acceptable to the building administration and the CAPA Coordinator. The student shall be denied participation for a minimum of one calendar year from the date of violation and must apply for reinstatement in the extracurricular and/or athletic program after completing the treatment program.

Sale and/or Distribution - Students in violation of selling or distributing alcohol and/or drugs will be dealt with according to the Code of Student Conduct and shall be denied future participation in any extracurricular or athletic program.

Self-Referral by Students - Students may take advantage of a self-referral procedure to seek information, guidance, counseling and/or assessment in regard to his/her use of alcohol and/or drugs. First time voluntary referrals DO NOT carry any punitive consequences.

Disciplinary/Due Process Explanation and Procedures

1. Participation in practice for students in violation may be allowed at the discretion of the athletic director, athlete's coach, activity advisor, and building administrator. However, the student may not dress/participate with the team for contests/performances.

2. All students must complete the Insight Program or Tobacco Education Group by the end of the school year. Non-compliance will result in underclassmen (freshman, sophomore and junior) being ineligible for further participation in extracurricular or athletics until the Insight Program or Tobacco Education Group has been completed. Seniors non-compliant will not be eligible to receive awards and/or recognition for the activity they participated in or the sport they played.

3. At no time is Brecksville-Broadview Heights City School District responsible to incur fees for chemical dependency assessment/treatment/counseling. Financial responsibility for these recommendations must be incurred by the parent and/or legal guardian.

4. Notification Process: The principal, assistant principal, organization advisor or the athlete director will submit immediate written notification to the parent/guardian and student of disciplinary action.

5. Situations not covered in this policy will be reviewed by the extracurricular advisor, athletic department and the administration with a final decision being made by the building principal.

6. In certain circumstances, advisors of activities, clubs, and organizations may wish to hold an appeals hearing with the building administrator and CAPA Office Coordinator in regard to a student's continued involvement.

7. Students apprehended by law enforcement agencies for use of illegal substances (i.e., tobacco and tobacco products, alcohol or other drugs) are referred to the CAPA office year round and must participate in the Insight Program.