Agawam Public Schools - GBEC ILLEGAL DRUGS AND ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES

In March 1989 the federal government passed the Drug-Free Workplace Act which requires all federal grant recipients to certify that they have established a drug-free workplace environment. Failure to comply with certification requirements may result in loss of contract, suspension, or debarment from grant programs for up to five years.

Certification requires that the Public Schools:

Publish and distribute a statement notifying employees that alcohol/drug abuse in the workplace is prohibited and violation is subject to disciplinary action.

2. Establish a drug-free awareness program for employees regarding:

a. dangers of drugs in the workplace

b. policy of maintaining a drug-free workplace

c. approved drug counseling/treatment/rehabilitation programs

d. notice of potential disciplinary action.

3. Notify employees that employment is conditioned upon:

a. abiding by the terms of the drug-free workplace policy

b. notifying employer of any drug conviction resulting from workplace conduct within five days of the conviction. A conviction report form is included with and made a part of this policy.

Inform the contracting agency within ten days of receipt of notice of conviction.
Impose sanctions, up to and including termination, or require participation in a rehabilitation program within thirty days of learning of a conviction for workplace-based drug abuse.
Maintain a drug-free workplace by conducting `a biennial review of the drug-free workplace program to determine its effectiveness, to ensure that disciplinary sanctions are consistently enforced, and to implement changes as needed.

Illegal drugs and alcohol abuse in the workplace are a danger to us all. They impair safety and health, promote crime, lower productivity and quality, undermine public confidence in the work we do.

In compliance with the federal Drug Free Workplace Act of 1989, the Public Schools are committed to maintaining a drug and alcohol free workplace.

Employees have the right to know the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse in the workplace, the school's policy

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File: GBEC

about them and the assistance available to combat drug and alcohol problems. The public schools shall guarantee privacy and confidentiality to those employees seeking and/or accepting services. Employees shall not engage in unlawful manufacture, possession, use or distribution of illegal drugs on school premises or during a school- sponsored activity at any location or possess, use or distribute alcoholic beverages on school premises or during a school-sponsored activity at any location.

Any employee who is convicted of any violation of the Massachusetts criminal laws concerning workplace conduct regarding illegal drugs shall report such conviction in writing to the Superintendent of Schools in or within five (5) days of the conviction.

Any employee violating the above policy is subject to appropriate disciplinary action, up to and including termination, for the first offense. However, the recommended course of action is to have employees obtain rehabilitative help through a referral assistance program, up to and including those benefits under their health coverage. Employees may self- refer, may be referred by their immediate supervisor and/or bargaining unit representative, or may be referred by their families.

As a condition of employment, all employees of the public schools are required to comply with the prohibition against drugs and alcohol in the workplace, and to notify the Superintendent of Schools, within five days, of any criminal drug statute conviction for a violation occurring within the workplace.

Under federal law, the Superintendent must notify the contracting federal agency within ten days of receipt of notice of a criminal drug statute conviction for a violation occurring within the workplace. Within thirty days of receiving notice, the School Committee must take appropriate personnel action against the employee, up to and including termination, and/or require the employee to participate in an approved substance abuse assistance or rehabilitation program. Such programs may, or may not be fully covered by health insurance benefits.

ALL EMPLOYEES ARE ASKED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THEY HAVE READ THE ABOVE POLICY AND AGREE TO ABIDE BY IT IN ALL RESPECTS. BY LAW, THIS ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND AGREEMENT ARE REQUIRED OF YOU AS A CONDITION OF CONTINUED EMPLOYMENT.

I have read the public schools' Drug Free Workplace Policy and agree to abide by it in all respect. I understand that this acknowledgment and agreement are required as a condition of continued employment.

Date__________________________ Signature _________________________________

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