The objectives of the District’s drug testing program are as follows:

• To establish and define written policy and procedures for Denison ISD to:

  • Educate eligible District student’s (hereinafter referred to as Extracurricular Participant or “EP”), who participates in any activity that represents Denison ISD as to the dangers of drug abuse.

  • Periodically drug screen a select number of eligible EPs.

  • Drug screen any eligible EPs where a reasonable suspicion exists concerning unlawful use of controlled substances.

• To promote the safety, health, academic, and athletic progress of each EP in Denison ISD.

• To discourage any drug use and abuse by eligible EPs in Denison ISD.

• To identify any chronic dependency and ensure that it is treated and addressed properly to the fullest extent of our available resources.

• To provide education, guidance, counseling, and treatment to all eligible EP who test positive by referring them to the appropriate professional help as indicated.

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Guidelines for Denison ISD drug testing program are as follows:

• All EPs participating in high school or middle school activities that represent Denison ISD shall be subject to the testing program.

• Periodically a select number of EPs shall be randomly selected (no less than 5 percent and no more than 20 percent) from a computer-generated pool of all EPs provided by DISD to the District Vendor.

• The method of screening shall be an independent laboratory immunological screening procedure.  All drugs detected by the screen shall be confirmed by Gas Chromatography / Mass Spectroscopy (hereinafter referred to as GC/MS) before being reported as a positive result.  A drug screen to provide the necessary documentation will confirm an EP’S admission of guilt. An EP’s failure to provide a sample in the allotted one hour time period will be treated as a positive test.

• Certified lab personnel and professional staff with the assistance of district employees, shall administer testing.

• Each EP selected shall be required to provide a scientifically valid sample to the designee during the time constraints described at TESTING PROCEDURES AND PROTOCAL.

• Prior to participation in a random drug testing the EP must provide the Compliance Officer a list, in writing, of all prescription drugs the EP is taking under the direction of a Medical Doctor, which could result in a positive drug test.

 

Drugs Eligible for Testing:

Drugs, which an EP may NOT buy, possess, use, sell, or distribute under either federal or

Texas law. Such drugs include, but are not limited to, alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, opiates, amphetamines, methaqualone, benzodiazepines, phencyclidine (PCP), methadone, barbiturates, propoxyphene, and all prescription drugs upon reasonable suspicion that they were obtained without authorization.

 

Testing Procedures and Protocols  

• Random Testing: Every EP will be eligible to be tested during the entire school year. A select number of EPs shall be randomly selected (no less than 5 percent and no more than 20 percent) at both the high school and middle school from a computer-generated pool of all EPs for testing. EPs shall be required to submit a sample immediately upon request.   All specimens shall be collected adhering to a strict chain of custody.

• All positive screens shall be confirmed by a split sample that will include GC/MS testing by the district vendor.

• The District vendor shall take the specimens to a certified lab for confirmation test. Except as herein provided, the district vendor shall send the results of a positive test to the parent/guardian of the EP and the Compliance Officer. Any EP, who tests positive, shall automatically be included by the district vendor in the random drug testing for the remainder of his or her middle school/high school career.

• Each EP participating at the high school or middle school level in an EA, and his or her parent/guardian shall sign a consent form agreeing to the student’s participation in the drug testing program. A consent form will need to be signed at the beginning of each school year, or when the EP first enters an extracurricular activity. If the EP or the parent/guardian refuses to consent, the EP shall be denied participation in extracurricular activities until said consent form is signed and the EP undergoes drug testing with a negative result.

• Any EP refusing to be tested shall be considered to have resigned from all extracurricular activities.

• Any EP caught cheating or tampering with a specimen shall be subject to sanctions as a positive test.

• If any EP is selected for a random drug testing and is absent from school, the EP will be carried over to the next random drug testing date. An EP that has tested positive and is absent the day of a random drug testing will be required to report to the District’s vendor within twenty-four hours after the day the EP returns to school. Failure to report will constitute a positive test. Any EP selected for random drug testing who does not report to the test site, will be considered to have provided a positive test.

 

Confidentiality

The collection and coding of specimen samples shall be executed in a manner ensuring total

confidentiality and proper identification. All tests results shall be destroyed when the EP no longer has middle school/ high school extracurricular eligibility. Test results shall be used only for the purposes of this policy and shall not be used for disciplinary proceedings.

 

Sanctions for Positive Testing

Positive test results shall be cumulative throughout each EPs high school career. The actions below shall be taken for any EP testing positive to a drug test.  The cumulative count shall be reset at the beginning of the EP’s ninth grade year; therefore, no positives in junior high will be counted once the ninth grade year is reached.

 

1st Positive Testing

Actions for the first confirmed positive test are as follows:

1. The parent /guardian and the Compliance Officer will be notified by the district vendor of the positive result by voice and letter.  The Compliance Officer will notify the appropriate head coach of the EP positive test. 

2. A meeting including the parent/guardian, EP, Compliance Officer and school counselor must take place to discuss the confirmed positive test, the steps required to participate in extracurricular activities, future random tests as well as the parameters and time-frame necessary to complete a drug counseling program.

3. The EP will be required to complete a drug counseling program.  The EP will be required to present proof of completion of this program to the Compliance Officer. Any costs resulting from outside counseling are the responsibility of the parent/guardian.

4. The EP will be tested at each random drug screening for the remainder of his/her eligibility at DISD.

 

2nd Positive Testing

Actions for the second confirmed positive test are as follows:

1. The parent /guardian and the Compliance Officer will be notified by the district vendor of the positive result by voice and letter.  The Compliance Officer will notify the appropriate head  coach of the EP positive test and the EP will be removed from  competitive contests for a minimum of 10 school/practice days.

2. A meeting including the parent/guardian, EP, Compliance Officer and school counselor must take place to discuss the confirmed positive test, definition of length of time removed from extracurricular activities, drug education/counseling, future random tests and re-entry to extracurricular activities.  Failure to attend said meeting by parent/guardian and EP will be considered grounds for removal from extracurricular activities in DISD.

3. EP will be removed from all competitive contests for a minimum of 10 school/practice days.  EP must attend and participate in athletic practices and athletic class.  Upon completion of above said days, drug counseling participation, and approval of Athletic Director/Principal, reinstated EP will be allowed to return to competitive contests.

4. The EP will be required to complete a drug counseling program.  The EP will present proof of completion to the Compliance Officer.  Any costs resulting from outside counseling are the responsibility of the parent/ guardian.

 

3rd Positive Testing

Actions for the third confirmed positive test are as follows:

1. The parent /guardian and the Compliance Officer will be notified by the district vendor of the positive result by voice and letter.  The Compliance Officer will notify the appropriate head coach of the EP positive test and the EP will be removed from competitive contests for a minimum of 30 school/practice days.

2. A meeting including the parent/guardian, EP, Compliance Officer and school counselor must take place to discuss the confirmed positive test, definition of length of time removed from extracurricular activities, drug education/counseling, future random tests and re-entry to extracurricular activities.  Failure to attend said meeting by parent/guardian and EP will be considered grounds for removal from extracurricular activities in DISD.

3. EP will be removed from all competitive contests for a minimum of 30 school/practice days.  EP must attend and participate in athletic practices and athletic class.  Upon completion of above said days, drug counseling participation, and approval of Athletic Director/Principal, reinstated EP will be allowed to return to competitive contests.

4. The EP will be required to complete a drug counseling program.  The EP will present proof of completion to the Compliance Officer.  Any costs resulting from outside counseling are the responsibility of the parent/ guardian.

 

 

4th Positive Testing

Actions for the fourth confirmed positive test is as follows:  Any EP testing positive four times during his/her high school career in Denison ISD shall be banned from further participation in extracurricular activities.

 

Appeal Process

• Parents/Guardians may appeal the results of a confirmed positive test by submitting a Positive Test Appeal form within 24 hours of the EP being informed of the positive test.  Forms may be requested through the district’s drug testing coordinator.  The district drug testing coordinator can be contacted at 903.462.7085. 

• The EP shall be tested within 48 hours of a confirmed positive test by an alternative vendor approved by the district testing coordinator.  Any costs associated with the alternative test will be the responsibility of the parent/guardian.  Costs are non-refundable. 

• Parents/Guardians must provide written consent to the approved vendor for the test results to be released directly to the district’s drug testing coordinator from the approved vendor.  Results will not be accepted directly from parents/guardians.