Roane County Schools

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    Policy 547 - Drug and Alcohol Testing of CDL Holders

    Adopted on October 9, 2024

    Effective October 9, 2024

    The Board of Education believes that the safety of students while being transported to and from school or school activities is of utmost importance and is the primary responsibility of the driver of the school vehicle. To fulfill such a responsibility, each driver, as well as others who perform safety-sensitive functions with Board-owned and/or operated ("Board-owned") vehicles must be mentally and physically alert at all times while on duty. In addition, the Board recognizes that a drug-free and alcohol-free school and work environment is vital to workplace and school safety and to the quality of the County'seducational services.

    The Board expects all Drivers to comply with Policy 502 - Drug Free Workplace which prohibits the possession, use, sale, or distribution of alcohol and any controlled substance on school property at all times.Further, the Board concurs with the Federal requirement that all Drivers should be free of any influence of alcohol or controlled substance while on duty. Therefore, participation in the alcohol and controlled substances testing program is a condition of employment for all Drivers.

    Covered Employees

    This policy covers all commercial driver's license (CDL) holders and regular and substitute bus drivers who operate a commercial motor vehicle while on duty, as well as other service employees who may drive students in County vehicles or inspect, service, and condition County vehicles.

    Definitions

    For purposes of this policy and the guidelines associated with the policy, the following definitions shall apply.

    1. The term alcohol means the intoxicating agent in beverage alcohol, ethyl alcohol or other low molecular weight alcohols, including methyl or isopropyl alcohol. This term is a volume breath expressed in terms of grams of alcohol per 210 liters of breath as indicated by an evidential breath test as described herein.
    2. The term controlled substance includes the possession or use of which is unlawful pursuant to Federal, State and local laws and regulations, and any drug that is being used illegally, such as a prescription drug that was not legally obtained or not used for its intended purposes or in its prescribed quantity. The term does not include any legally-obtained prescription drug used for its intended purpose in its prescribed quantity unless such use would impair the individual's ability to safely perform safety-sensitive functions. This term includes, but is not limited to, marijuana metabolites, cocaine metabolites, amphetamines, opiate metabolites, phencyclidine (PCP).
    3. The term controlled substance abuse includes excessive use of alcohol as well as prescribed drugs not being used for prescribed purposes, in a prescribed manner, or in the prescribed quantity.
    4. The term safety-sensitive functions includes waiting to be dispatched, inspecting equipment, servicing, driving, loading or unloading County vehicles, as well as repairing, obtaining assistance, or remaining in attendance upon a disabled County vehicle. This term further includes any period in which an individual is actually performing, ready to perform, or immediately available to perform any safety-sensitive function.
    5. The term driver means all CDL holders and regular and substitute bus drivers who operate a commercial motor vehicle while on duty, as well as, other service employees who may drive students in County vehicles or inspect, repair, and maintain Board-owned vehicles.
    6. The term while on duty means all time from the time the CDL license holder begins to work or is required to be in readiness for work until the time s/he is relieved from work and all responsibility for performing work.
    7. The term CDL holder means all regular and substitute bus drivers, other staff members who may drive students in Board-owned vehicles or inspect, repair, and maintain Board-owned vehicles. The Board will not tolerate the possession, use, sale, or distribution of alcohol and/or any controlled substance or drug other than those approved for administration by the appropriate school personnel on school property, at any time. All CDL license holders must comply strictly with this policy. Further, the Board concurs with the Federal requirement that all CDL license holders should be free of any influence of alcohol or controlled substance while on duty.

    The Superintendent shall establish a drug and alcohol testing program whereby each regular and substitute bus driver, and any other staff member who holds a CDL license, as well as any staff member performing safety-sensitive functions, is tested for the presence of alcohol in his/her system as well as for the presence of the following controlled substances:

    A. Marijuana

    B. Cocaine

    C. Opioids

    D. Amphetamines

    E. Phencyclidine (PCP)

    The drug tests are to be conducted in accordance with Federal and State regulations a) prior to employment, b) for reasonable cause, upon return to duty after any alcohol or drug rehabilitation, d) after any accident, e) on a random basis, and f) on a follow-up basis.

    Candidates shall also be tested for the presence of alcohol in their system prior to employment.

    Any staff member who is subject to drug tests in accordance with this policy and who tests positive shall be:

    A. prohibited from driving any school vehicle and using Board-owned equipment;

    B. referred to the District's Employee Assistance Program;

    C. provided information regarding drug/alcohol counseling;D. evaluated for assistance resources;

    E. subject to discipline, up to and including discharge, in accordance with District procedures and the terms of any applicable collective bargaining agreements.

    Furthermore, if during any test the lab determines that an adulterant has been added to the specimen, then:

    A. the test will be considered positive and the employee shall be prohibited from driving any school vehicle and be referred to the District’s Employee Assistance Program.

    B. the employee will be re-tested with an observed collection to prevent the addition of an adulterant to the specimen.

    Any staff member who refuses to submit to a test shall be prohibited from performing or continuing to perform his/her safety-sensitive functions (e.g., driving any Board-owned vehicle)and shall be considered to have abandoned their position. A staff member who voluntarily disclose that they have an addiction to alcohol or controlled substances may participate in the Employee Assistance Program, and will qualify for the receipt of medical insurance benefits for treatment of alcohol or substance abuse, including follow-up care, to the extent that such benefits are provided for or offered in the Board's health insurance package. Voluntary disclosure of an alcohol or drug addiction by a staff member will not subject the staff member to disciplinary action unless such disclosure is made after the staff member is selected to be tested or immediately prior to the selection of staff members to be tested. Nothing herein shall prevent the Board from disciplining a staff member for misconduct associated with his/her alcohol and/or drug use regardless of whether the employee has disclosed that s/he has an alcohol or drug addiction.

    A staff member will be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination, for any of the following reasons:

    A. reports for duty or performs work while having an alcohol concentration of 0.02 or greater;

    B. reports for duty or performs work while testing positive for using a prohibited drug, or while being under the influence of a prohibited drug;

    C. refuses to submit to drug and/or alcohol testing;

    D. alters or attempts to alter or unduly influence alcohol and/or drug testing results;

    E. fails to remain readily available for post-accident testing (including notifying his/her supervisor of his/her location, if the staff member leaves the scene of the accident prior to the submission of a post-accident test unless the staff member's departure is to obtain necessary emergency medical care).

    Prior to the beginning of the testing program, the District shall provide a drug-free awareness program which will inform each CDL license holder about:

    A. the dangers of illegal drug use and controlled substance and alcohol abuse;

    B. Policy 502 - Drug-Free Work Place, Policy 545 - Physical / Mental Examination, Policy 546 - Substance Abuse;

    C. the sanctions that may be imposed for a violation of Policy 502 - Drug-Free Workplace.

    It shall be the responsibility of any employee to report to the appropriate law enforcement office information received concerning a person who:

    A. sells, gives away, distributes or markets any substance or product in this State or transports such a substance or product into this State with the intent that the substance or product will be used to defeat a drug or alcohol screening test;

    B. attempts to defeat a drug or alcohol screening test by the substitution of a false sample;

    C. advertises for sale or distribution any substance or product the advertised purpose of which is to defeat a bodily fluid screening test for drugs or alcohol;

    D. adulterates a bodily fluid sample with the intent to defeat a drug or alcohol screening test;

    E. possess adulterants for the purpose of defeating a drug or alcohol screening test; orF. sells adulterants which are intended to be used to adulterate a urine or other bodily fluid sample for the purpose of defeating a drug or alcohol screening test.

    All time spent undergoing an alcohol or controlled substance test, including travel time, will be paid at the service employee’s regular rate of pay, or at his/her overtime rate, if applicable. Any service employee who is not allowed to return to work while awaiting test results will be compensated during the waiting period for all work time lost, including overtime, if applicable. The Board shall pay all costs associated with the administration of alcohol and controlled substance tests. This includes testing of the "split specimen" at a Federally certified laboratory if so requested by a service employee. The Board will not pay for the employee’s time while not on duty, if the split specimen test results are positive. Alcohol and drug test results shall be protected as confidential medical records as appropriate (i.e. test results shall be provided on a right to know basis – the employee, the employer, and the substance abuse professional – and the results shall not be presented until analyzed by and reported on by one competent to understand and interpret the test results. A tested individual, upon written request, will have access to any records relating to his/her use of drugs and alcohol, including any records pertaining to his/her drug and alcohol tests. A tested individual must provide written authorization before his/her test result can be provided to any other person except a government agency specified in the applicable Federal regulations.

    All tests shall be conducted in accordance with Federal testing guidelines and be performed by a laboratory that is Federally certified (i.e. testing procedures and devices used will be as set forth in 49 C.F.R. Part 40).

    The alcohol and drug testing program shall be under the direction of the Superintendent or designee.

    The Superintendent shall arrange for the required amount of training for appropriate service employees in drug recognition,

    in the procedures for testing, and in the proper assistance of service employees who are subject to the effects of substance abuse.

    The Superintendent shall submit, for Board approval, a contract with a certified laboratory to provide the following services:

    A. testing of all first and second test urine samples

    B. clear and consistent communication with the person or entity performing the testing and/or interpreting the results

    C. methodology and procedures for conducting random test for controlled substances and alcohol

    D. preparation and submission of all required reports to the Board of Education, and to Federal and State governments as required

    The Superintendent shall also select the agency or persons who will conduct the alcohol breathalyzer test and the drug collection site(s) in accordance with the requirements of the law.

    Educational Materials Related to Certain Federal Regulations, Board Policies, and Procedures

    CDL holders and other employees who perform safety-sensitive functions will be provided educational materials at the time of hire or at any time when required to operate a school vehicle. The educational materials shall explain the requirements of applicable Federal regulations and of the Board's policies and District's procedures with respect to meeting these Federal regulations. The educational materials will at a minimum include the following:

    A. the contact information for who is the individual designated by the Board to answer questions about the educational materials;

    B. a statement that all CDL License holders and other employees who perform safety-sensitive functions are subject to 49 CFR 382.601, which is a Federal regulation that addresses the misuse of alcohol and other controlled substances;

    C. information sufficient to make clear to employees the period of the work day during which they are required to comply with the regulations

    D. information concerning prohibited conduct;

    E. the circumstances under which employees are subject to testing for alcohol and/or controlled substances;

    F. the procedures for testing for the presence of alcohol and controlled substances in order to protect the employee and the integrity of the testing process, to safeguard the validity of the test results, and to confirm the results are attributed to the correct employee, including post-accident information, procedures, and instructions required under Federal regulations;

    G. the requirement that employees must submit to alcohol and controlled substance testing as required by the regulations

    H. an explanation of what constitutes a refusal to be tested for alcohol or controlled substances and the attendant consequences

    I. the consequences of testing positive, including the requirements of immediate removal from safety-sensitive functions, and the procedures regarding referral, evaluation, and treatment

    J. the consequences for a test indicating an alcohol concentration greater than 0.02 but less than 0.04;

    K. information concerning the effects of alcohol and drug misuse on an individual’s health, work, and personal life; signs and symptoms of an alcohol problem (the employee’s or a co-worker’s); and available methods of intervening when a drug or alcohol problem is suspected (including confrontation and how to refer someone to an Employee Assistance Program or to management); and

    L. information regarding the requirement that certain personal information collected and maintained under 49 CFR 382.601 be reported to the Commercial Driver's License Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse.

    The educational materials are to be distributed to each service employee upon being hired or transferred into a covered position thereafter. Each service employee must sign a statement certifying receipt of these materials. Each employee (and organization representing Board employees) shall receive written notice of the availability of this information, and the identity of the Board’s designated representative in charge of answering employee questions about the materials.

    Return-to-Duty (Safety-Sensitive Positions)

    Employees who are removed from performing safety-sensitive functions as a result of this policy must take and pass a return-to-duty test before returning to performing safety-sensitive functions. The return-to-duty test will not occur until after a Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) has determined that the employee has successfully complied with prescribed education and/or treatment. The employee must have a negative drug test result and/or an alcohol test with an alcohol concentration of less than 0.02 before resuming performance of safety-sensitive duties.

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