Roane County Schools

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    Policy 662 - Use of Alcohol, Cannabis, Controlled Substances, and Other Drugs on School Premises

    Adopted on June 22, 2023

    Effective July 1, 2023

    The Board of Education is committed to providing students, staff, and visitors with a safe and drug-free environment.

    For the purposes of this policy, the following definitions apply:

    1. "Alcohol " means any substance containing an intoxicating element.
    2. "Cannabis" means marijuana and its derivative uses, including but not limited to edibles, ointments, creams, lotions, pills, oils, vapes, electronic delivery devices, and other products which do or are meant to deliver THC or other cannabinoid substances to the body.
    3. "Controlled substance" means a substance whose manufacture, distribution, and use is governed by the Uniform Controlled Substances Act (WV Code 60A).
    4. "Drug" means any substance that acts on the central nervous system to alter behavior(s) and / or thought processes.
    5. "Paraphernalia" means drug paraphernalia as defined by WV Code 47-19-3 and any item, thing, or device used for the facilitation or administration of alcohol, drugs, controlled substances, or other illegal substances.

    This policy shall apply at all times to any building, property or vehicle leased, owned or operated by the Board. This policy shall apply to any private building, or other property including automobiles or other vehicles used for school activities when students or staff is present.

    No person shall at any time possess, distribute, or use any alcohol product, cannabis product, controlled substance, or any other drug or illegal substance defined in this policy while on school grounds, in any County-owned vehicle, or at any school-sponsored function.

    No person shall at any time possess drug paraphernalia while on school grounds, in any County-owned vehicle, or at any school-sponsored function.

    Individuals supervising students off school grounds are prohibited from distributing or using any alcohol product, cannabis product, controlled substance, or any other drug or illegal substance defined in this policy while in the presence of students or at any time while engaged in any activities directly involving students.

    No school or Board property or publication may be used for the advertisement of any alcohol product, cannabis product, controlled substance, or any other drug or illegal substance defined in this policy.

    An exception shall be made by the Superintendent to allow possession/use of medication properly prescribed by a medical professional and used as prescribed, provided, that in the case of an employee or student whose prescribed use of this medication must occur during regular school hours, this is made known to the Superintendent and school principal and such employee or student follows all Board policies and procedures regarding the proper storage and delivery of such medication at all times.

    If the Board discovers that an employee has sold or furnished any alcohol product, cannabis product, controlled substance, or any other drug or illegal substance defined in this policy to minors, the Board may dismiss such employee for cause. Any such discharge shall be considered as "gross misconduct" for the purposes of determining the discharged employee's eligibility for unemployment benefits if the employer has provided the employee with prior written notice in the workplace that such act or acts may result in termination from employment.

    Maintenance and Use of an Opioid Antagonist

    The Board authorizes the possession and use of an opioid antagonist at its schools, at its facilities, and on its buses. The Superintendent shall develop administrative guidelines governing the maintenance and use of an opioid antagonist pursuant to this policy. At a minimum, these guidelines shall specify that this shall occur under the direction of a certified school nurse, who shall be responsible for training designated personnel on the storage, maintenance, and use of opioid antagonists pursuant to applicable state law and policy and shall require notification to a parent or guardian immediately following use of an opioid antagonist on a student.

    The Superintendent shall cause records to be maintained regarding any purchase, stocking, use, or disposal of an opioid antagonist at a school, at a facility, or on a bus owned and operated by the Board.

    Nothing in the policy shall require a school, facility, or bus be stocked with an opioid antagonist. The Board and any individual trained pursuant to this policy is immune from any civil liability related to any act or omission related to the administration of an opioid antagonist, including not possessing an opioid antagonist, unless the act or omission was the result of gross negligence or willful misconduct pursuant to state law.

    This page accessed on April 29, 2024 @ 9:36 am.