A Guide for SMP Schools
- A Guide for St. Mary Parish Public Schools
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Policies
- Asbestos Hazard
- Athletic/Cheerleader/Dance Team Drug Testing
- Child Nutrition Program
- Counseling Services
- Education of Dyslexic Students
- Foreign Exchange Students
- Grading System and Honor Roll
- Health Services
- Homeless Children & Youth Education Program
- In-School Suspension Program
- Internet and Network Use
- Migrant Education
- Notice of Non-Discrimination
- Parental/Family Engagement
- Safe and Drug-Free Schools
- School Bus Conduct Policy
- School Choice
- SMP Alternative Program
- SMP Virtual Learning Program
- Special Education Services
- Student Insurance
- Student Records
- Teacher Bill of Rights
- Title I: Every Student Succeeds Act
- Title III EL Program
- Title II
- Title IV
- Title IX
- Vocational Assessment
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Student Code of Conduct
- Attendance
- Bullying, Harassment, Intimidation, and Threats
- Bus Transportation Guidelines
- Cellular Phone Use
- Corporal Punishment Guidelines
- Dating Violence
- Discipline: Disciplinary Action for Students with Disabilities
- Discipline: Expulsion
- Discipline: Reporting Incidents Involving Seclusion or Physical Restraining
- Discipline: Suspension
- Discipline: Virtual Instruction
- Driving is a Privilege
- Felony
- Fighting
- Grooming
- Hazing
- Offensive Student Conduct at End of Year
- Respect Statute
- Smoking: Tobacco and Vaping
- Student Adjustment Centers (After-School Detention)
- Student Dress Code
- Student Searches
- Substance Abuse Policy & Procedures
- Tardiness
- Technology and Computers
- Textbooks
- Weapons
- Zero Tolerance Policy
- High School Courses and Graduation Requirements
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Report Card Schedule
- Parent Bill of Rights
- St. Mary Parish Schools
- Student Code of Conduct
- Substance Abuse Policy & Procedures
Substance Abuse Policy & Procedures
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DRUG FREE ZONES
It is unlawful for anyone to use, distribute, be under the influence of, manufacture or possess any controlled substances as defined by statute on or around school property or an area within 2,000 feet of any property used for school purposes by any school, or on a school bus. These areas shall be designated as Drug Free Zones. The St. Mary Parish School Board, in cooperation with local governmental agencies, and the Louisiana Department of Education, shall designate and mark Drug Free Zones which surround all schools and school property.
REPORTS OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE
State law mandates that teachers and other school employees report suspected substance abuse in school. These cases shall be reported to the principal and the School Building Level Committee chairperson in the school. The principal must report each case of possession, distributing, sales or manufacturing to the proper law enforcement authority. Reports shall also be made to the Student Assistance Team, who shall investigate, research, and report on instances or reports of possession of prohibited substances or beverages. Designated personnel shall report its findings along with the recommendation for treatment, counseling or other appropriate action to the principal.
SUBSTANCE ABUSE VIOLATIONS
The possession, use, delivery, transfer, or sale of alcoholic beverages [or] controlled dangerous substances governed by the Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substances Law, while on school premises, on school busses, or under school supervision, is expressly forbidden.
- Manufacture, distribution, simple possession, as well as possession with intent to distribute illegal drugs, controlled dangerous substances [is] governed by the Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substances Law. When the principal/designee after an investigation has reasonable cause to believe that a student has manufactured, distributed, possessed, or possessed with intent to distribute illegal, narcotic, drugs, controlled dangerous substances governed by the Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substances Law, or any mood-altering chemicals, the student's parents, the Supervisor of Child Welfare and Attendance, the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Coordinator shall be contacted immediately. The school system shall request charges be brought against the student. The student shall be suspended (in-school or out-of-school suspension) from school according to the following procedures:
- If the student is age 16 or older, the student shall be referred to the District Attorney’s Office with recommendation for Drug Court assessment. The student shall be expelled for the maximum period of time allowable under state and federal law for a minimum period of (4) four complete school semesters.
- Students less than 16 years old and in grades 6-12 shall be expelled from the Parish Public School System for the maximum period of time allowable under state and federal law for a minimum period of (2) two complete school semesters. The student shall be referred to the District Attorney’s Office.
- Any case involving a student in Kindergarten through Grade 5, the student shall be suspended, pending a hearing with the Supervisor of Child Welfare & Attendance, the superintendent or designee will make recommendations for disciplinary action.
- No student expelled under item (A) or (B) shall be allowed to return to a Parish Public School without documentation of enrollment and participation in a Rehabilitation or Counseling Program relating to the expulsion and express approval of the Parish School Board through an administrative hearing.
- The superintendent or designee may modify the expulsion requirement on a case by case basis, providing that such modifications are in writing.
- Possession of alcohol, or any mood-altering chemical, or a student's being under the influence of alcohol, controlled dangerous substances, or possession of drug paraphernalia, or possession of, distribution or intent to distribute facsimile/look-alike/counterfeit drugs/alcohol and/or counterfeit controlled dangerous substances (Counterfeit will refer to any items used to simulate drugs.)
- FIRST OFFENSE: When the principal/designee after an investigation has reasonable cause to believe that a student has violated any of the above, the student's parents, the Supervisor of Child Welfare and Attendance, the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Coordinator, and the appropriate law enforcement agency shall be contacted immediately. The student shall be suspended (in-school/out-of-school) from school pending:
- A hearing at the school or designated place, with parent(s)/guardian, Supervisor of Child Welfare and Attendance, Drug-Free Schools Coordinator and principal/designee shall be held before the student may be readmitted to school and
- An appropriate educational intervention may be assigned for the student and parent(s)/guardian(s). Failure to comply with these procedures shall result in immediate referral to the juvenile court system.
- SECOND OFFENSE: When the principal/designee has reasonable cause to believe that a student has, for the second time in a school year, violated the above, the student will be expelled from the Parish Public School System for a period of time to be determined by the Supervisor of Child Welfare and Attendance at a hearing with the student and parent(s)/guardian.
- FIRST OFFENSE: When the principal/designee after an investigation has reasonable cause to believe that a student has violated any of the above, the student's parents, the Supervisor of Child Welfare and Attendance, the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Coordinator, and the appropriate law enforcement agency shall be contacted immediately. The student shall be suspended (in-school/out-of-school) from school pending:
Additional Procedures
- Any student arrested for possession of, or intentional distribution of, or possession with intent to distribute any illegal narcotic, drug, or other controlled substance on school property shall be referred by the school principal or designee within five days after such arrest, for testing or screening by a qualified medical professional for evidence of abuse of alcohol, illegal narcotics, drugs, or other controlled dangerous substances.
- If evidence of abuse is found, the student shall be referred by the principal or his designee to an alcohol and drug abuse treatment professional chosen by the student's parent or tutor legal guardian. If the student is found by the professional to be in need of treatment, and if the student agrees to cooperate in the recommended treatment, as certified in writing by the medical professional, such documentation may be used to initiate reopening the student's case. The school board shall take into consideration the student's agreement to receive treatment as a positive factor in the final decision relative to any final disciplinary action.
Updated 08/05/2021
Kenneth Holmes - Manufacture, distribution, simple possession, as well as possession with intent to distribute illegal drugs, controlled dangerous substances [is] governed by the Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substances Law. When the principal/designee after an investigation has reasonable cause to believe that a student has manufactured, distributed, possessed, or possessed with intent to distribute illegal, narcotic, drugs, controlled dangerous substances governed by the Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substances Law, or any mood-altering chemicals, the student's parents, the Supervisor of Child Welfare and Attendance, the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Coordinator shall be contacted immediately. The school system shall request charges be brought against the student. The student shall be suspended (in-school or out-of-school suspension) from school according to the following procedures:
