The Board of Education believes that early recognition and treatment of illegal drug use, controlled substance abuse, or alcohol abuse is important for successful rehabilitation, return to productive work, and reduced personal, family, and social disruption.

The District encourages the earliest possible diagnosis and treatment for illegal drug use or controlled substance abuse and supports sound treatment efforts. Whenever feasible, the District will assist staff members in overcoming illegal drug use or controlled substance abuse. However, the decision to seek diagnosis and accept treatment for illegal drug use or controlled substance abuse is primarily the individual staff member's responsibility. Any costs associated with treatment in excess of those costs covered by the staff member's medical insurance plan shall be borne by the individual.

Staff members with personal drug or controlled substance abuse problems should request assistance from the EAP provider. Assistance will be provided on a confidential basis, and each staff member will be referred to the appropriate treatment and counseling services.

Although the District will assist staff members to the extent feasible through the Employee Assistance Program, the Board cannot guarantee that the staff member's use of illegal drugs or abuse of alcohol or controlled substances will not impact adversely the staff member's employment status through disciplinary procedures.

The District also recognizes that an employee's personal and professional well-being can be adversely affected by stresses resulting from personal or family problems, and has established an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) to help employees and their family members receive timely confidential assistance to overcome such problems.

It is the employee's voluntary choice to make use of EAP services. The fact that an employee accepts, rejects, or fails to respond to treatment for problems is unrelated to the employee's job responsibilities. The District assures employees and supervisors that implementation of this policy will not require or result in any special regulations, privileges, or exemptions from administrative practices applicable to job performance, nor excuses the obligation to use personnel management tools and procedures available to maintain an acceptable performance level.

Employees who want professional help can voluntarily contact an EAP provider directly. Records of employee contact will be confidentially kept by the EAP provider.

Recognizing that family health is reflected in the lives of individual family members, assistance under the EAP is also available to any member of employee's immediate family - either at the request of the employee or of the family member. A family member may contact the EAP provider directly. All contacts between an employee's family and the EAP provider will be confidential.

The cost of the professional screening will be borne by the School District, if the employee utilizes an approved agency as provided in the administrative guidelines. Any additional costs will be the obligation of the employee (insurance may apply).