Co-Curricular Substance Abuse Policy
.                     Philosophy and objectives
School activities play an integral part of the total educational process of students enrolled in the Moscow School District. Because activities provide an educational opportunity, participants and coaches/advisors strive to meet the following objectives:
·          Promote and contribute to the goals of the total educational program
·          Promote good citizenship and respect for rules and authority
·          Promote involvement and community interest in activities
·          Promote good sportsmanship
·          Learn the value of competitive participation
·          Development of individual and team skills
·          Practice good health habits
·          Practice physical, intellectual, and artistic development
·          Represent the school and community in a positive manner
If students choose to participate in activities, they do so voluntarily, and, therefore, there are expectations beyond those required of students who do not wish to participate in activities. These include maintaining academic eligibility, abiding by rules set forth by the coach/advisor, and setting high standards for behavior. Moreover, commitment to activities requires that participants refrain from the use or possession of controlled substances. Participation in activities is not considered to be a right, but rather, it is a privilege.  
Those students who violate the “Co-Curricular Substance Abuse Policy” shall be subject to discipline that may include permanent removal from participation in school district activities. Additionally, the Moscow School District Board of Trustee, by adopting this policy, hopes to decrease peer pressure to use controlled substances on students participating in activities.
II.           Definitions:
A.      Curricular Activities : These are instructional activities that are integral to the classroom as a part of the curriculum and are a natural extension of classroom activities that result in a course grade or credit. Any activity for which a grade is issued will be considered a curricular activity. Examples of graded activities that may occur outside of the normal classroom situation include, but are not limited to: band or choir concerts, competitions, music festivals, and selected drama productions.
B.       Co-Curricular Activities: These are activities that are in addition to classroom instruction and have no bearing on a course grade or credit. These activities include, but are not limited to: school clubs, student government, academic competitions, all athletics, pep band, cheerleading, and other organized activities where credit is not involved.
C.       Controlled Substances: These include, but are not limited to; alcohol, tobacco (including smokeless tobacco), opiates, opium derivatives, stimulants, steroids, hallucinogenic substances, cocaine, cannabis, synthetic equivalents of the substances that have a depressant effect on the central nervous system, and drug paraphernalia. Excepted from this definition are any medications specifically prescribed for a student’s use by his/her own doctor.
III.                  Seasons
The athletic season extends from the first day of tryouts to the last day of competition for that sport. All non-athletic activities begin with the first day of school. This policy shall be applied season by season for athletics, cheerleading, and pep band, or semester by semester for non-athletic co-curricular activities.
 IV.                  Commission of a Controlled Substance Violation
A.      A participant shall not use, consume, possess, transmit, or sell any controlled substance.
B.       A participant shall not engage in conduct detrimental to his/her group or the school at a party or other gathering where one or more minors are using controlled substances.
C.       A participant, within the constraints of safety, shall not knowingly drive or remain in a vehicle where controlled substances are possessed or being used by one or more minors.
V.                    Determination of Violations  - Student’s Right to Due Process
A.      When there is reasonable cause to believe that a student has violated this policy by committing any of the above acts, an investigation will be conducted by the activities director or other appropriate school administrator.
B.       As a part of the investigation process, the student will receive written notice of the allegation that he/she violated the policy, and will be given an informal hearing with the investigator.  Parents/guardians and the head coach/advisor are also encouraged to attend this hearing.
C.       At the hearing, the reasons for possible suspension from activities will be stated, and the student will be given an opportunity to provide evidence to refute those reasons.
D.      The investigator may determine a violation of the policy has occurred from examination of the facts, information, or evidence from any of the following sources:
       1.       Direct observation by an adult of a student possessing, using, or distributing controlled substances;
2.       Self admission by the student to a coach, activities director, or appropriate school administrator;
3.       Notification of school authorities by the student’s parent or guardian;
4.       A criminal charge involving the possession, use, or distribution of controlled substances.
E.       Appeals
1.       A student may appeal the determination that he/she has violated this policy and/or the penalty imposed by filing a written request with the principal within ten (10) days of the date the determination is made. The request for an appeal must clearly state the reasons why the review is being requested. The review will be an informal meeting of the student, parents/guardians if desired, and a panel consisting of the principal, activities director, and head coach/advisor. The panel will issue a written decision within five (5) school days of the date of the review. 
2.        If the student’s appeal to the panel is not successful, the student has the right to appeal to the Moscow School District Board of Trustees by filing a written request with the Superintendent’s office within ten (10) days of the date the determination is made. The request for an appeal must clearly state the reasons why the review is being requested. The Board of Trustees will issue a written decision within five (5) school days of the date of the review.  The decision of the Board of Trustees is final.
3.        Students shall abide by all other terms of their suspension until a final determination is made regarding their appeal.
VI.                  Penalties
A.      First Violation
1.       The participant shall be suspended for 50% of the sport season/semester from participating in any game, contest, competition, or event. For athletics, cheerleaders, and pep band, the number of contests per season (rather than the calendar year) shall be used to determine the length of the suspension.
2.       In the event that a student self-reports the violation, either voluntarily or upon being questioned by a coach, activities director or administrator, the suspension will be reduced to 25% of the season/semester.
3.       If a police citation is given related to the use of controlled substances, the student must self-report within 72 hours of the citation, or when questioned by a school official if less than 72 hours have elapsed, for the reduction in suspension to be granted.
4.       For controlled substance violations, the student must also attend a controlled substance education program approved by the school district before he/she is eligible for reinstatement. The cost of the program will be borne by the participant and/or his/her parents. Failure to complete the program will result in continued suspension from activities.
5.       For activities with performances/contests, students must attend all practices and performances/contests while suspended. Failure to do so will result in continued suspension from activities. For all other activities, such as student council, students will not be allowed to participate while suspended.
6.       When the full penalty cannot be imposed, the remaining portion of the suspension will be carried over and served during the next activity participated in by the student.
7.       A participant must conclude the season/semester with any activity that is used to finish a penalty from a previous season/semester. Failure to complete the activity will result in the penalty being carried over to the next activity participated in by the student.
8.       When a student commits a violation during the school year during a period of time when he/she is not involved in any activity covered by this policy, the violation will be recorded but no punishment rendered. However, when the student subsequently becomes involved in an activity, the student will begin the activity with one violation on his/her record. The first violation that occurs while involved in an activity will then automatically be treated as a second violation.  If a student commits two or more violations while not involved in an activity, or as a combination of out-of-season and in-season violations, the student will have two violations recorded on the record as he/she enters a new activity. A subsequent in-season violation will result in the offense being treated as a third violation.
B.       Second Violation
1.       A participant who commits a second violation shall be suspended from all participation in co-curricular activities for one calendar year from the date it is determined that a second violation occurred.
2.       In addition, for a second alcohol or drug violation, the participant must undergo a drug and alcohol assessment program approved by the school district, comply with the recommendations of the professional conducting the test assessment, and provide documentation of the assessment and compliance with the recommendations in order to be eligible for reinstatement at the end of the calendar year.   The expenses of the assessment and any actions necessary to comply with the recommendations must be borne by the student and his/her parents.
C.       Third Violation
        A participant in grades 9-12 who commits a third violation shall be suspended from participation in activities for the remainder of his/her high school career.
D.      Accumulation
Penalties accumulate in grades 9-12. A student who has committed one or more controlled substance violations as defined in this policy in grades 7-8, or transfers in from another school district with a record of having violated any policy prohibiting the use, possession, or distribution of controlled substances will enter grades 9-12 with one violation on his/her record.
VII.                Reinstatement
A.      A student who has completed an approved treatment program and provides a recommendation from that treatment program that the student has successfully completed the program and is unlikely to use controlled substances in the future may apply for reinstatement of eligibility following a third violation.
B.       This application for reinstatement must be submitted in writing to the principal no less than two calendar years from the date of the suspension. The Board of Trustees will make the final determination of reinstatement.
VIII.              Citizenship
Other undesirable student behavior not covered in the above policy, including, but not limited to, violations requiring administrative action as established in the “Behavior Violations” section of the Moscow Junior High School handbook, and in the “Discipline/Student Hearings” section of the Moscow High School Student handbook, may be cause for activities suspension at the discretion of the appropriate school administrator and/or the head coach.
IX.                 Review Clause
The Co-Curricular Substance Abuse Policy was approved by the Board of Trustees of the Moscow School District at a special meeting held August 5, 1999 and is in effect for the 99-00 school year.  At the end of the 99-00 school year, the policy will be reviewed by the Co-Curricular Substance Abuse Committee and recommendations based upon that review will be submitted to the Board of Trustees.  Any changes in the Co-Curricular Substance Abuse Policy as a result of Board of Trustee action based on the review of the policy will be in place for the 2000-2001 school year.  If no changes are made, this policy as written will be in effect for the 00-01 school year and subsequent years or until such time as the Board of Trustees approves changes to the policy.

PLEASE NOTE: This policy must be signed by both the student and parent/guardian before a student may participate in co-curricular activities – please detach this form and return it to the appropriate coach/advisor.

I have read the Moscow School District Co-Curricular Substance Abuse Policy and understand that violation of its provisions will result in the penalties described therein.

___________________  __________            ______________________  __________   
student                                 date                           parent/guardian                               date