The Cherry Creek School District shall promote a healthy environment for students by providing education, support and decision-making skills with respect to alcohol, drugs, and other controlled substances and their abuse. To accomplish this goal, a cooperative effort shall be made between schools, parents/guardians, the community and community agencies. The Board of Education recognizes that the use, possession, distribution, selling, giving or exchanging of illicit drugs and alcohol is illegal, constitutes a hazard to students' health and is detrimental to a healthy learning environment.
Adoption Date: March 10, 2003
Last Revised: March 13, 2023
- It shall be a violation of Board policy and considered to be behavior which is detrimental to the welfare or safety of an individual student, other students, or school personnel for any student to use, possess, distribute, sell, procure, give or exchange or to be under the influence of alcohol, drugs or other controlled substances (as defined by state or federal law)or to have drug paraphernalia, including marijuana accessories, on District property.
- For purposes of this policy, prohibited controlled substances include but are not limited to narcotic drugs, hallucinogenic or mind-altering drugs or substances, amphetamines, barbiturates, stimulants, depressants, marijuana, anabolic steroids, any other controlled substances as defined in state or federal law, or any prescription or nonprescription drug, medication, vitamin or other chemical substances not taken in accordance with the Board's policy and regulations on administering medication to students or the Board's policy on administration of medical marijuana to qualified students, which require an order from a prescribing provider.
- This policy also includes substances that are represented by or to the student to be a controlled substance or what the student believes to be a controlled substance.
- This policy shall apply to any student on District property, in attendance at school, being transported in a school vehicle or in vehicles dispatched by the District or one of its schools, during any school-sponsored or District-sanctioned activity or event, off school property when the conduct has a reasonable connection to school or any District curricular or non-curricular event, or whose conduct at any time or place interferes with the operations of the District or the safety or welfare of students or employees.
- Students violating this policy shall be subject to disciplinary sanctions which may include suspension and/or expulsion from school and referral for prosecution.
- Situations in which a student seeks counseling or information from a professional staff member for the purpose of overcoming substance abuse shall be handled on an individual basis depending upon the nature and particulars of the case. When appropriate, parents/guardians shall be involved and an effort made to refer said student to available resources to address the substance abuse.
- The Board, in recognition that drug and alcohol abuse is a community problem, shall cooperate actively with law enforcement, human services or other agencies and organizations, parents/guardians and any other recognized community resources committed to reducing the incidents of illegal use of drugs and alcohol by school-aged youths.
- Whenever possible in dealing with the challenges students face associated with drug and alcohol use, school personnel shall provide parents/guardians and students with information concerning education and rehabilitation programs related to substance use which are available.
- Information provided to students and/or parents/guardians about community substance abuse treatment programs or other resources shall be accompanied by a disclaimer to clarify that the District assumes no financial responsibility for the expense of drug or alcohol assessment or treatment provided by other agencies or groups unless otherwise specified in the accompanying regulation or unless otherwise required. Nor does the District bear responsibility for the effectiveness of programs for which resources are provided.
- A copy of this policy and its accompanying procedures shall be made available on the District website.
- The District shall conduct a periodic review of its drug and alcohol prevention program to determine its effectiveness and to implement any necessary changes.
| Legal References: | 20 U.S.C. § 7101 et seq. (Safe & Drug Free Schools and Communities Act of 1994) |
| 21 U.S.C. § 812 (definition of "controlled substances" and schedules of controlled substances) | |
| C.R.S. § 18-18-102(3), (5) (definition of "anabolic steroid and "controlled substance") | |
| C.R.S. § 18-18-407 (1)(g)(I) (crime to sell, distribute or possess controlled substance on or near school grounds or school bus) | |
| C.R.S. § 22-1-110 (instruction for students related to alcohol and drugs) | |
| C.R.S. § 22-1-119.3 (3)(c), (d) (no student possession or self-administration of medical marijuana | |
| C.R.S. § 22-32-109.1 (2)(a)(I)(G) (policy required as part of safe schools plan) | |
| C.R.S. § 22-33-106(l)(d) (suspension or expulsion discretionary for the sale of a drug or controlled substance) | |
| C.R.S. § 25-1.5-106 (12)(b)(IV) (possession or use of medical marijuana in or on school grounds or in a school bus is prohibited) | |
| C.R.S. § 25-14-103.5 (boards of education must adopt policies prohibiting use of retail marijuana on school property) | |