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Drug Policy

 Philosophy

Cumberland Valley Christian School has a responsibility to safeguard the health and safety of all students.

Because the abuse of substances constitutes a health hazard, the administration shall:

  • Provide controlled substance education in the elementary and secondary schools.
  • Cooperate with any law enforcement agency in the investigation of controlled substance use and/or sale.
  • Seek the cooperation of students in controlling the use of controlled substances by students.
  • Pursue any method of resources necessary to curtail substance abuse

Definitions

The following are included in the substance abuse policy of Cumberland Valley Christian School:

  • Drugs – All prescription drugs, patent drugs, controlled substances, volatile chemicals, or over-the-counter drugs.
  • Prescription drugs – Those medicines prescribed by a physician, physician’s assistant, nurse practitioner, dentist, or anyone else legally permitted to prescribe drugs.
  • Patent drugs – Drugs sold over the counter without a prescription. Examples: steroids, caffeine pills, cough syrup, cold medicine.
  • Controlled substance – Substances identified in the schedule contained in “The Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act” of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
  • Alcohol – Beverages sold under state license containing alcohol.
  • Misbranded substances – Substances offered for sale or sold under the name of a drug or in such a manner as to create a reasonable probability that the purchaser will be led to believe that he/she is purchasing a drug. This includes “look-alike” substances.
  • Volatile chemicals – Substances and/or inhalants containing dangerous or toxic properties. This includes but is not limited to gasoline, kerosene, butane, Freon, “RUSH,” glue, white-out, and aerosol hair spray.
  • Drug or substance paraphernalia – Any utensil or item which, in the school’s judgment, can be associated with the use of drugs, alcohol, or mood altering substances. Examples include but are not limited to roach clips, injection needles, pipes, bowls, rolling papers, marijuana seeds, and syringes.
  • User – One who possesses or takes drugs, alcohol, misbranded substances, or volatile chemicals, or possesses drug-related paraphernalia.
  • Pusher – One who possesses for sale, sells or distributes drugs, alcohol, misbranded substances, volatile chemicals, or drug-related paraphernalia.
  • “Use” – The ingestion, injection or inhalation of any drug or alcoholic beverage. Also, a condition or state of being of a student indicating to school authorities that a student is under the influence or a drug or alcoholic beverage when either the ingestion, injection, inhalation or condition is performed or observed in any setting in which students are responsible to school authority and/or supervision.
  • “Possession” – The presence of a drug or alcoholic beverage on the person of a student, in any amount, or in or on any item under control of the student or owned by the student when such presence of the drug or alcoholic beverage is observed, discovered, or has occurred in any setting in which students are responsible to school authority and/or supervision.
  • “Distribution” – The sale, transfer, trade, exchange, or aid in any manner of any drug or alcoholic beverage from one person to another person, in any setting in which students are responsible to school authority and/or supervision.
  • “Cooperative Behavior” – The willingness of a student and/or parent or guardian to work with staff and school personnel in complying with requests and recommendations of the administrative guidelines.
  • “Uncooperative Behavior” – Resistance or refusal, either verbal, physical or passive, on the part of the student and/or parent or guardian in complying with requests and recommendations of the administrative guidelines.
  • School Sponsored Activity – A meeting, gathering, class, or activity that is initiated, supervised, or coordinated by a school employee, whether or not the school sponsored activity occurs on school property.

Procedures

  • Emergency Situation – When there is evidence that a student is functioning under the influence of a controlled substance, the following procedure is in order:
    • School authorities will seek immediate attention for the student.
    • Parents (or guardians) will be notified.
    • The school nurse shall be informed and involved.
    • Punishment will follow under the user/possessor procedure.
  • The school reserves the right where reasonable suspicion exists for the administrator to administer an alcohol content test
  • At the discretion of the administration, preliminary screening for drug and/or alcohol abuse can be used.
  • In cases of use, possession, distribution, or pushing of drugs and/or alcohol, the following procedures will apply:
    • Parents are notified.
    • State police may be notified.
    • School nurse will be informed and involved.
    • The student, his/her locker, desk, car, and other possessions may be searched.
    • The student may be expelled.
    • The administration reserves the right to use its discretion in all drug- and/or alcohol-related cases.

Illegal drugs or alcohol by non-students – A person who is not a student at Cumberland Valley Christian School who brings drugs and/or alcohol onto the campus or to a school sponsored activity, or is suspected of or known to be selling or providing drugs and/or alcohol to students shall be treated as follows:

  • Local law enforcement officials will be informed immediately.
  • The school may press charges if evidence is found.

 PRESCRIBED MEDICATIONS

It is recognized by the school that prescribed medication may need to be administered to students in school. This policy is not intended to infringe on those circumstances. However, medications will be kept in a safe place in each school building, and medications will be administered by the school nurse or designee in a confidential manner. The following procedure should be followed:

  • The parent will send the medication to school with the student along with a doctors note outlining its use.
  • The student will turn the medication in to the office.
  • This procedure may also be followed for a student who needs to take non-prescription medications during school hours
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