JFCH/JFCI: Alcohol Use by Students/Student Drug Abuse

The Board of School Trustees (the “Board”) believes that: “... proper [student] behaviour is essential to the development of responsible and self-disciplined citizens and essential to the operation of effective schools” (see policy JFC); therefore, the possession, consumption, or use of alcohol or drugs at school functions is prohibited and contrary to any code of conduct established in the schools in Vancouver (School District No. 39).

For the purposes of this policy:

• “school function” includes any assembly, meeting, or gathering of students, or student field trips for school purposes under the supervision or direction of the Board, representatives of the Board, or the teaching or supervisory staff in the course of their duties;
•  "alcohol” includes beer, wine, cider, and spirits, and “drugs” refers to: “...substances, the possession of which is prohibited under the Narcotic Control Act, or anything which contains such a drug or substance or any drug or substance designated a restricted drug under the Food and Drug Act, unless the person possessing or consuming the restricted drug was authorized under that Act to possess the drug.”

When a principal concludes that a student has:

• consumed alcohol or taken drugs and is found in or upon any school premise or at any school function,
• brought alcohol or drugs in or upon school premises or to any school function,
• has in his/her possession alcohol or drugs,
• consumed alcohol or taken drugs while in or upon any school premises or at any school function.

The principal shall carry out the following procedure:

1. forthwith inform the parent or guardian of the student, where possible in person or by telephone and, thereafter, notify the parents in writing, either by hand delivered letter or double registered letter;
2. arrange, when practicable, for a formal interview with the parents or guardian and the student at the school to discuss the circumstances of the incident and provide the parent or guardian with a copy of this policy.

Following these steps, the Board may:

• in accordance with Sections 85(2)(c)(ii) and(2)(d) of the School Act, suspend the student;
• take some other form or corrective or disciplinary action having regard to the provisions of the School Act enacted pursuant thereto.

Where the Board suspends a student, it shall comply with the provision of the School Act and shall notify the parent or guardian of the student.

• The Board authorizes school administrative officers to suspend students for up to five days. If an administrative officer suspends a student for five days or fewer, the Associate Superintendent - Area shall be so notified; statistics on suspensions will be kept by the Associate Superintendent - Area.  Suspensions over five days shall be done by the Board.
• When a student has been suspended, the school administrative officer, after considering the individual circumstances, may arrange for the transfer of the student to another school within the district or, if the student resides outside the Vancouver school district, to the district in which the student resides.
• When an infraction is committed late in the year (May or June) and, in the opinion of the principal, the remaining number of days in the school year would not provide sufficient time for the student to show good citizenship in the school to which the student is transferred, the transfer shall be extended to the next school year.
• If two or more students are subject to transfer arising out of the same incident, every effort should be made not to transfer them to the same school. A student whose citizenship at the end of the year proves satisfactory to the principal of the school to which the student is transferred may remain at that school or be re-enrolled at the school from which he/she was transferred for the next school year, except as noted above.
• Regardless of the disciplinary action taken, the principal shall, after discussion with the teacher-counsellor and parent/ guardian, consider the advisability of referring the student for an assignment interview with a counsellor from the Alcohol and Drug Program, Ministry of Health, or another appropriate agency or service.
• When a student is disciplined for alcohol or drug use at the school or at a school function, the administrative officers shall notify the parents that, under the School Act, sec. 11(2), parents may appeal that decision.  Such appeals are directed to the Student Discipline Review Committee, pursuant to the School Act, sec. 11(5).
• The district policy relating to alcohol and drugs shall be part of the code of conduct of all Vancouver schools and communicated to students each year at a school assembly early in the year. The information shall also be placed in a school newsletter.
• When notices are sent home about overnight field trips, there should be reference on that note that the rules of the school apply while the students are on the field trip (school code of conduct, drug and alcohol policy and regulations, weapons policy, etc.) 
• While this policy outlines specific circumstances where the policy will be applied, the consumption or possession of alcohol or drugs off the school site is covered under the student code of conduct and may result in discipline.

NOTE: School Act, Sec. 6(1): “A student must comply

(a)  with the school rules authorized by the principal of the school or Provincial school attended by the student, and

(b)  with the code of conduct and other rules and policies of the board or the Provincial school.”

DMT Responsibility: AS-F