Substance Misuse, Abuse and Other Contraband

A.       In the school-home partnership it is essential that the school take responsibility for the safety and welfare of its students when they are both on and off campus. Use of illegal drugs and/or alcohol by students is both illegal and contrary to the precept of ונשמרתם מאד לנפשותיכם. Students are strictly prohibited from sharing prescription medications or over-the-counter drugs with other students. It is the responsibility of the school to inform the parents of any student about whom we have information regarding such use; the school will also seek to contact parents when we have even reasonable suspicion of such use.

B.       Any student who is found to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or who has drugs or alcohol in their possession on campus or at a school sponsored event will be suspended immediately. This mandatory suspension will last for no less than one complete semester / one half-of one school year. Return to school will be dependent upon a meeting with the parents at which time a plan will be put in place requiring drug/alcohol testing and counseling. Other stipulations may apply to each case. The recommendation of the drug/alcohol counselor must be followed, and ongoing therapy and random testing for a to-be-specified period of time following the incident will be instituted. Further misuse of banned substances or failure to adhere to the plan will lead to expulsion from the MJBHA.

C.       Additionally, any student found selling or providing drugs to other students on campus or at school sponsored events will not only be referred to the police, but will be expelled immediately.

D.       In order to provide a safe community for all of our students, the behavior of our students off school grounds remains important to us.  In particular, if a student is found to have used illegal substances off campus, the school retains the right to impose consequences as appropriate up to and including the possibility of expulsion.

E.       To encourage students to avoid drug use altogether, the Upper School will continue to implement a program of random drug testing. All students will be subject to a random selection for a hair follicle based test that looks for a range of drugs in the students' systems. The goal of this program is to provide students with a tool that will enable them to withstand pressures that might otherwise cause them to experiment with drugs. The follicle collection will be done under the supervision of our nurse's office with the expenses for the random testing to be borne by the school. Any student who insists that a positive result is in error may make an immediate appeal and a second test will be conducted. The results of the second test will be considered conclusive.

F.        If a child tests positive, the principal and one of the guidance counselors will meet with the student and the parents. We will mandate a program of counseling and further drug testing at the parents’ expense. There will be no other punitive measures taken on the first positive result. Subsequent positive tests will result in a suspension of up to six months at the discretion of the administration. 

G.       Students and at least one parent are required to attend a drug information evening run by the school. Attendance at this meeting is required for graduation. The current program calls for 10^th graders and their parents to attend this important event towards the end of the first quarter of the school year.

F.        Among other items students are prohibited from bringing to school are lighters, matches, cigarettes, and weapons of any kind. The administration reserves the right to search a student’s belongings, locker, or book bag if there is any reason to believe he or she is in possession of any banned substances or items while on school premises or at a school sponsored event. Violations of this sort invariably lead to a suspension of a to-be-determined length, and may result in an expulsion.