The Board of Education recognizes alcoholism and drug abuse as treatable illnesses. When such illnesses impair the performance of support staff, the Board recognizes the responsibility to assist in a manner recommended by an appropriate specialist in the treatment of those illnesses.

A support employee having an illness or other problem relating to the use of alcohol or other drugs will receive the same careful consideration and offer of assistance that is presently extended to support staff having any other illness.

The responsibility to correct unsatisfactory job performance or behavior resulting from a suspected health problem rests with the support staff member. Failure to do so, for whatever reason, will result in appropriate corrective or disciplinary action as determined by the Board.

If a support staff member voluntarily requests counseling or assistance before the Board learns of the support staff member’s substance abuse problem (through a positive test result or otherwise), the support staff member’s job security or promotion opportunities will not be jeopardized by his/her request for counseling or referral assistance. A support staff member may not avoid the consequences of a positive test by requesting counseling or assistance for a substance abuse problem after being instructed to submit to a drug test.

Medical records of support staff with alcohol or other drug abuse problems will be preserved with the same degree of confidence as all other medical records.

Support personnel who suspect they may have an alcoholism or other drug abuse problem are encouraged to seek counseling and information on a confidential basis by contacting resources available for such service.

This policy applies to all Board support staff.

A.C. Rule 388.271 et seq.
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. 794

Revised 7/22/03