NCAA & Drug Testing
NCAA Clearinghouse Information
The NCAA Clearinghouse is an organization outside of the NCAA which performs academic record evaluations to determine if a prospective student-athlete is eligible to participate at an NCAA Division I or II college as a freshman student-athlete. NCAA Eligibility Center www.eligibilitycenter.org/ The Official Web site of the NCAA Eligibility Center. Explore NCAA Divisions I and II initialeligibility requirements and register to participate.
Drug Testing Information
This policy is an extension of the Drug and Alcohol Use by Student Policies JICH and JICH-R, of the Morgan County School District. The purpose of this policy is to create a safe drug/alcohol free school for all students. It is the belief of the Morgan County School District that participation on any interscholastic athletic team and in extracurricular activities is a privilege, not a right. Students who volunteer to participate in these programs are expected to accept the responsibilities granted to them by this privilege. These students as well as their parents/guardians must also recognize that because of their choice to participate in these activities, they have less expectation of privacy than do other students.
The effects of drug usage in an educational environment are visited not just upon the users, but also upon the entire student body and faculty, because the educational process may be disrupted, and the individual’s safety risk factor is increased.
As this is a non-curricular occurrence, no recording of participation or of any test results, either positive or negative, will appear on the student’s permanent transcript or any other permanent record.
There exist several over-the-counter products known as sports enhancing supplements. The purpose of those supplements is to assist an athlete, enhance his/her overall physical development, and some are designed to enhance a specific athletic event.
The Morgan County School District wants to be clear in conveying the thought that the use of supplement(s) or product(s) designed to enhance performance is not endorsed or condoned. It is our hope that parents/guardians will support our view that the use of such supplements should be prohibited.
As a means of conveying our opinions on the topic, our coaches, trainers and teaching staff through curriculum and annual team orientations, address this issue with our students. The message we want to convey to our students is that preparation for athletic performance is best served through a proper and well-balanced nutritional diet and appropriate physical activity designed by our coaches, trainers, and weight room supervisors.
Drug Testing Guidelines
Authority:
The Morgan County School District prohibits the possession, use, misuse, or the distribution of drugs, controlled or mood-altering substances, including anabolic steroids, look-alikes, designer drugs, drug paraphernalia, and medication not registered with the office, or alcohol on school district property, school buses, or during activities under school district jurisdiction. This policy encompasses all students in grades 9 to 12 desiring to participate in any interscholastic athletic activity and/or extracurricular activity. The policy includes those students being educated by the district under special circumstances, including home schooling and home bound. The district welcomes all students, with the permission of their parents/guardians, to participate voluntarily in the program.
The district will require any student who is submitting to testing and the student’s custodial parent/guardian to consent in writing to drug testing pursuant to the district’s drug testing program using the forms provided by the district. No student will be able to participate in any interscholastic sport or any extracurricular activity without such consent. Students and parents or legal guardians will have the opportunity to participate in an Informational Meeting concerning the District’s Random Drug Testing Policy. Immediately prior to giving a specimen, each student shall complete all forms required by the testing company selected by the district.
PROCEDURE FOR DRUG TESTING PARTICIPANTS
INFORMED CONSENT FOR TESTING
Prior to the joining of a sports and/or club/organization, a consent form signed by the student and their parent/guardian will be required. Students will not be able to participate without the consent form turned in.
DRUG MONITORING FREQUENCY
Testing will be randomly conducted throughout the school year, starting the second week of school. Each week, approximately 20 students will be randomly chosen by Colorado Mobile Drug Testing and sent over to the high school Athletic/Activities Directors. Students will be called up to the office from this list and taken to the area where the Drug Testing will be conducted by the Colorado Mobile Drug Testing company. Any eligible student athlete and/or activity participant selected randomly for drug monitoring who are not in school the day of testing, will automatically be added to next week’s testing group.
SAMPLE COLLECTION
Samples will be collected as outlined under vendor requirements. Each student will be given the Test Request & Chain of Custody paper before the test. We will be using an Instant Test and students will get results ASAP.
REFUSAL TO SUBMIT TO DRUG USE TEST
A participating student who refuses to submit to a drug test authorized under this policy, will result in a positive test.
SELF-REPORTING
If a student is part of the random testing group for a week and self-reports, they will receive the same consequences as if a student tested positive. RESULTS If a student’s tests are positive an administrator will be contacted to come and get the student and escort them up to the office. The administrator then will contact the parents/guardians to go over the results. The test will be sent for confirmation of the positive.
REQUEST FOR RETEST
Students involved in the program may, upon a non-negative test result, request that the sample be re-tested (within 72 hours of being notified of the final testing result) at a second nationally certified laboratory. The request for the test must be submitted in writing to the principal. Students participating in athletic/extracurricular activities are required to pay the associated costs for an additional test in advance. However, the costs will be reimbursed if the result of the re-test is negative.
RELEASE OF INFORMATION
No information will be released and will be kept completely confidential for all testing by the testing company and Morgan County School District. Colorado Mobile Drug Testing will send all test results to the high school. Parents/Guardians can contact the high school for a copy of results.
SELF-DISCLOSURE
Any student who was proven by self-admission or admission by the parent/guardian to violate the policy throughout the calendar year while off campus will be subject to consequences outlined in the Student Handbook and the Athletic/Activities Handbook.
SUSPENSION REQUIREMENTS
If a student has a positive test and is put on suspension from their sport and/or club, they will be required to take a secondary test before they can return to the sport and/or club. The test will be done through Colorado Mobile Drug Testing in Fort Morgan, at the cost of the student and/or parent/guardian.
If a student has tested positive and it is their first offense, they will be required to attend counseling meetings with the Student Health Counselor at Fort Morgan High School.
If a student has a 2nd or 3rd positive test during their suspension time, they will be required to attend Drug and Alcohol testing with Centennial Mental Health. If a student chooses not to attend the required class and put in effort, they will not be able to return to their sport and/or 25 club until it is fulfilled. The cost of the counseling will be paid for by the student and/or parent/guardian. Centennial Mental Health will work with insurances, pay scales, and other needs of the family.
APPEAL
Fort Morgan High School conforms to federal requirements of due process for students. A student participating in athletic/extracurricular activities who has been determined by the school Principal, Athletic Director, or Activities Director to be in violation of this policy shall have the right to appeal the decision to the Superintendent or his/her designee. Such request for a review must be submitted to the Superintendent in writing within five (5) calendar days of notice of the positive test. A student requesting a review will remain ineligible to participate in any athletic/extracurricular activities until the review is completed. The Superintendent or his/her designee(s) shall then determine whether the original finding was justified. No further review of the Superintendent’s decision will be provided, and his/her decision shall be conclusive in all respects. Any necessary interpretation or application of this policy shall be in the sole and exclusive judgment and discretion of the Superintendent which shall be final and non-appealable.
PROGRAM EVALUATION
All data will be kept confidential between the Athletic Director and Activities Director. The Random Drug Testing Committee will meet once a week for the first month to analyze the procedure and to make sure everything is working correctly. After the first month, the committee will meet once a month to review the procedure. At the end of each school year a report will be completed to show proper procedure was followed throughout the school year. All information shall be aligned from the Colorado Mobile Drug Testing company to Fort Morgan HS. The report will be shared with the superintendent to keep on file, documenting that procedure was followed each testing week.