Zero Tolerance Policy

Universal Drug Testing Program

A. The School requires universal drug testing of all students in grades 8-12 as follows:

1. Every student in grades 8-12 will be tested at least once during the academic year.
2. A certain percentage of all students in each of grades 8-12 will also be randomly tested during the academic year.
3. Any student testing positive on the initial or a subsequent test will be retested in 100 days and again thereafter at the discretion of the Administration. All follow-up testing will be at the expense of the student’s family.

B. Testing Method - The primary method of testing will be hair analysis performed by a licensed clinical laboratory. The School will use Psychemedics Corporation for such testing. Each hair sample will be analyzed for cocaine, opiates, marijuana, methamphetamine, PCP and Ecstasy. Other forms of testing, for example, urine testing or hair testing for additional drugs, may be employed at the discretion of the Administration.

C. Hair Collection Procedures

1. Each student in grades 8-12 will be assigned a unique identification number. Administrators, counselors, and trained staff will perform the hair collections using chain of custody procedures established by Psychemedics Corporation. The Headmaster, Dean of Students (for Upper School), the Middle School Director (for Middle School), Drug Testing Coordinator, and student will be the only persons privy to the identification numbers. The identification number of the student will be entered on the hair collection kit.
2. A sample of hair (approximately 60 strands) will be cut cosmetically from the crown of the student’s head. Methods for students with insufficient hair will be determined by administration. The sample will be sealed by the designated School employee and initialed by the tested student under chain of custody procedures established by Psychemedics Corporation to identify the hair sample and results. The sample will be sent to Psychemedics Corporation’s lab.

D. Confidentiality and Dissemination of Results

1. All hair collections and results will be identified by the unique individually coded number of the student. No names will be recorded on the collection bag or the test results.
2. Test results of students will be confidentially provided by Psychemedics Corporation to the Headmaster.
3. Parents will NOT be notified if a test is negative. The School will notify the student’s parents/guardians of a positive result within 15 days of receipt of the test results by the School.
4. All test results of students will remain strictly confidential between the student, his or her parents/guardians, the appropriate administrator and the counselor selected by the parents/guardians as discussed below.
5. No test result of any student will be disclosed to any person or agency beyond the persons identified above without signed written consent of his or her parents/guardians. Release of test results of students will be requested by the Headmaster for purposes of referral for professional evaluation and possible treatment recommendations.

E. Contesting a Positive Result:  If a student testing positive wishes to contest the test result, he or she may do so within ten days of notification of the student’s parents/ guardians of the positive result. Re-tests will be at the expense of the student’s family.

F. Consequences of a Positive Result

1. School personnel will not initiate criminal charges or other legal action against the student or the student’s parents/guardians based solely on a positive drug test obtained in the universal testing program.
2. The School will require a conference between the parents/guardians of a student testing positive and the Headmaster, Dean of Students (for Upper School), and the Middle School Director (for Middle School).
3. The School will require that any student who tests positive and the parents/guardians of any such student obtain a substance abuse evaluation through a counselor or community agency. The results of the evaluation/screen need not be published to the school, but notice that it has been done must be returned within ten (10) days of the original notice of the positive drug test.
4. All costs for the recommended counseling are the responsibility of the parents/guardians. A student who has tested positive on a test administered in the universal drug testing program for the first time will continue normal school activities unless directed otherwise by the parents/guardians and/or counselor.
5. Any student who tests positive in the universal testing program will be retested approximately 100 days after the date of the first test and thereafter at the discretion of the Administration. Additionally, students who test positive are on notice that they may be subject to urine testing during the one hundred (100) day period.
6. A second positive test at any time will result in the student being dismissed from the School. The students and parents will not be released from their St. Paul’s contract.
7. Any student who has tested positive on a test administered in the universal drug testing program for the first time remains subject to all other disciplinary policies and procedures of the School, including, but not limited to, those regarding the use and possession of illegal drugs or illegal use or possession of prescription drugs, for example, the policies referencing required testing set forth in Section I above and the provisions of Section II of the “Disciplinary Actions - Major Infractions” set forth below.

G. Consent - By submitting the 2012-2013 Student-Parent Handbook Online Acknowledgment Form, students and parents agree that:

1. Students and their parents/guardians understand the purpose and reason for the universal drug testing and give their consent thereto.
2. Students and their parents/guardians will release and hold harmless the School, its trustees, employees, agents and representatives, and any professional agency or business the School deems necessary to carry out this policy, from any and all liability, claims or damages with respect to the administration of the Universal Drug Testing Program, including, but not limited to, any claims arising out of alleged negligence on the part of such parties.
3. Any student refusing to submit to universal drug testing, including the initial test, a random test or any follow-up testing as deemed necessary by the Administration shall be subject to dismissal.

Mandatory or Required Testing

For the welfare of St. Paul’s students and the School and to promote the School’s zero tolerance position, St. Paul’s reserves the right to require a student suspected of using illegal drugs or alcohol or of other substance abuse to be evaluated at any time by a physician or medical technician of the School’s choosing, including but not limited to, drug testing. The suspicion of using illegal drugs or alcohol or of other substance abuse may be based on any information considered reliable by the administration in its discretion. The administration will keep the sources of such information confidential.

In addition, the administration reserves the right to require a student to be evaluated at any time by a physician or medical technician of the School’s choosing if any of the following occur:

1. Observed behavior or change in performance.
2. Reckless driving or speeding on campus.
3. Any major disciplinary infraction as defined by the administration.
4. Chronic tardies or absences from School.
5. Being off campus without permission.
6. Violation of any civil or criminal law.
7. Excessive detention hours.

By signing the 2012-2310 Student-Parent Handbook Online Acknowledgment Form, students and parents agree that:

1. Students shall submit to any laboratory testing that within the School’s discretion is deemed necessary, including, but not limited to, breath tests, urine tests, blood tests, hair tests, and fingerprinting.
2. Students and their parents understand the purpose and reason for the tests, and give their consent thereto.
3. Students and their parents will hold harmless St. Paul’s Episcopal School and any other professional agency or business that the School deems necessary to carry out this policy.
4. Students and their parents waive any privilege of confidentiality that might exist, or come into existence with respect to said School- required testing, including, but not limited to, any Doctor-Patient relationship.

All tests that are required by the School will be performed at a site determined by the School and results will be sent directly to the School. Any student whose test is determined by the School-designated test administrator to be positive by a professionally accepted standard shall be subject to discipline as deemed necessary by the administration including, but not limited to, a request for withdrawal. Any student refusing to submit to testing of this nature, and deemed necessary by the administration, in its discretion, shall be subject to dismissal.