FILE: G-4.2
DRUG SCREENING OF STUDENT ATHLETES
The City of Baker School Board acknowledges that extracurricular activities are not an essential aspect of the educational process in Louisiana. Therefore, student participation is not an absolute right but a privilege afforded to eligible students on an equal opportunity basis and thus is voluntary and not required by Board policy or state and/or federal law.
Therefore, the City of Baker School Board, in an effort to further protect the health and safety of student athletes, and in an effort to preserve and maintain a positive learning environment, has adopted a policy for Drug Screening of Student Athletes. The express purpose of this policy is (1) to help prevent student athletes from using drugs, (2) to help protect their health and safety, (3) to provide drug users with an educational assistance program, and (4) to try to preserve and maintain a positive learning environment for the children who have been committed to the temporary custody of the state as schoolmaster.
As a part of the drug screening policy, the City of Baker School Board authorizes random urinalysis drug testing of students who participate in the schools' athletic programs.
PROCEDURES
Prior to participating in any Louisiana High School Athletic Association (LHSAA) sanctioned sport, the student athlete and parent/guardian shall be required to sign the LHSAA Substance Abuse/Misuse Contract and the City of Baker School Board Student Athlete Drug Testing Consent form. These arrangements state that all student athletes shall be subject to random drug testing. These tests shall be strictly enforced and participation shall be mandatory, since the parents/guardians have freely chosen to allow their son(s)/daughter(s) to participate in athletic programs. No athlete shall be tested unless the parent(s)/guardian(s) and the athlete sign both the LHSAA and City of Baker School Board forms giving permission to have the tests performed. Refusal to allow these tests to be administered shall immediately serve notice that the student may not participate in any interscholastic athletics.
All student athletes shall be subject to random selection and testing throughout the school year. All urinalysis testing shall be performed by a professional NIDA approved laboratory to be selected by the Superintendent and approved by the Board. The tests shall ascertain if there is present any controlled substance as may be specified by the Board or Superintendent. All costs associated with the administration of the athletic drug testing program shall be the responsibility of the City of Baker School Board. However, any evaluation or counseling services which may be mandated as a result of positive tests shall not, under any circumstances, be the responsibility of the City of Baker School Board.
RESULTS OF TESTS
The following procedures shall be followed upon receipt of a positive result from the drug testing described herein:
Both the individual who has tested positive and his/her parents/guardians shall be immediately notified. The student athlete shall be excluded from participation in interscholastic athletics for a period of 6 weeks. The student shall submit to drug evaluation in an effort to determine the necessity of drug counseling and /or treatment, which, if needed shall be at his/her expense. At the end of the 6-week athletic suspension, the student may return to any school athletic program if he/she submits to another drug test and submits written evidence that the test was negative. This test must be performed at a certified laboratory or testing agency approved by the City of Baker School Board, but at the expense of the student and his/her parent(s) or guardian(s).
A second positive test result shall result in the student being excluded from participation in all interscholastic athletics for a period of twelve (12) months. A third positive test result shall result in the student being excluded from participation in all interscholastic athletics for the remainder of his/her high school career.
All test results shall be received by the Superintendent of Schools or his/her designee. The parent(s) and/or guardian(s) of a student testing positive shall be immediately notified by the responsible person and/or medical review officer. Such notification shall be confirmed in writing. Further, the Superintendent or his/her designee shall immediately notify the principal of the student's school who will then, without delay, notify the school's athletic director. The latter shall then advise the student as soon as possible.
A student or his/her parent(s) or guardian(s) may request a verification test from the specified testing agency, the cost of which shall be borne by the student and parent(s) or guardian(s), and shall be a test of the same specimen. Should the student request a verification test from another laboratory or testing agency, the cost of the verification test shall be the responsibility of the student and his/her parent(s) or guardians(s), and shall be administered by a laboratory or testing agency approved by the City of Baker School Board. Further, the verification test must be of the same specimen previously tested. Moreover, the verification test shall be administered in accordance with the terms, conditions, and provisions of this drug testing policy. Verification of test results will act as the only appeal to the conditions set forth in this policy.
OTHER GUIDELINES
The Superintendent or his/her designee shall implement guidelines that ensure the fair enforcement of this policy and maintain strict confidentiality. The drug testing guidelines established herein are to be employed in conjunction with and in addition to other School Board policies which prescribe penalties for the possession of, use of, consumption of, being under the influence of, and/or distribution of illegal or prohibited substances on school grounds or at any school related functions.
PARENTAL RELEASE
The parent(s) or guardian(s) and the student shall release the City of Baker School Board, its members (both individually and in their official capacity), as well as any employee, teacher, principal or other school administrator or personnel from any liability in connection with this policy, the administration of the testing procedures and/or test results, any warranties addressing the accuracy of said tests and any and all medical or laboratory procedures employed by the referring laboratory. It is expressly understood the City of Baker School Board assumes no responsibility for the diagnosis or treatment of any disease or condition that may become known as a result of any laboratory test(s) conducted in the implementation of this drug testing program.
Ref: La. Rev. Stat. Ann. ยงยง17:81, 40:961, 49:1111
Vernonia School District 47J v. Acton, 115 S.Ct. 2386 (1995)
Official Handbook, Louisiana High School Athletic Association
City of Baker School District