TAMPA CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL

RANDOM DRUG TESTING POLICY

2008 -2009

Tampa Catholic High School is committed to providing a safe and drug free environment. We follow a drug and alcohol policy which is clearly stated in the Student/Parent Handbook under the section titled CAMPUS RULES AND CODE OF CONDUCT.

Because of the proliferation of drug use among students in the United States, and in keeping with our commitment to provide a safe and drug free environment, we believe it is important to be proactive and identify students who have a substance abuse problem and provide necessary counseling.

We recognize the peer pressure that exists in the adolescent years making it more and more difficult for young people to resist these pressures and remain faithful to the beliefs and values instilled by their parents and reinforced by Tampa Catholic High School. Students who use drugs compromise their own health and well-being as well as the educational process and the safety of the entire school community. For these reasons, Tampa Catholic High School will be updating its policy to include mandatory, random drug testing.

Random Drug Testing is a program designed both to provide students with the incentive to say NO to drug use as well as identify and help students who test positive for drug use. This program, as the result of an initial positive test, will be therapeutic in nature allowing for the opportunity to refer identified users of drugs to an appropriate substance abuse program. However, a refusal on either the part of the parent or student to follow through with counseling shall constitute an automatic withdrawal from enrollment at Tampa Catholic High School.