All District workplaces are drug-free, and alcohol-free workplaces. All employees are prohibited from engaging in any of the following activities while on District premises, at a school event, while performing work, or while on call for the District:
For purposes of this policy, District premises means workplace as defined in the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act (CRTA) in addition to District and school buildings, grounds, and parking areas; vehicles used for school purposes; and any location used for a meeting of the Board, school athletic event, or other school-sponsored or school-sanctioned events or activities. School grounds means the real property comprising any school, any conveyance used to transport students to school or a school-related activity, and any public way within 1,000 feet of any school ground, designated school bus stops where students are waiting for the school bus, and school-sponsored or school-sanctioned events or activities. “Vehicles used for school purposes” means school buses or other school vehicles.
As a condition of employment, each employee shall:
Unless otherwise prohibited by this policy, prescription and over-the-counter medications are not prohibited when taken in standard dosages and/or according to prescriptions from the employee’s licensed health care provider, provided that an employee’s work performance is not impaired.
To make employees aware of dangers of drug and alcohol abuse, the Superintendent or Designee shall perform each of the following:
All employees are covered by the conduct prohibitions contained in policy 8:30, Visitors to and Conduct on School Property and Community Use of Buildings. The prohibition on the use of e-cigarettes, tobacco, and cannabis products applies both (1) when an employee is on school property, and (2) while an employee is performing work for the District at a school event regardless of the event’s location.
Tobacco shall have the meaning provided in Section 10-20.5b of the School Code.
E-Cigarette is short for electronic cigarette and includes, but is not limited to, any electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDS), electronic cigar, electronic cigarillo, electronic pipe, electronic hookah, vape pen, or similar product or device, and any components or parts that can be used to build the product or device.
An employee who violates this policy may be subject to disciplinary action, including termination. In addition or alternatively, the Board may require an employee to successfully complete an appropriate drug or alcohol abuse, employee assistance rehabilitation program.
The Board shall take disciplinary action with respect to an employee convicted of a drug offense in the workplace within 30 days after receiving notice of the conviction.
Should District employees be engaged in the performance of work under a federal contract or grant, or under a state contract or grant of $5,000 or more, the Superintendent shall notify the appropriate state or federal agency from which the District receives contract or grant monies of the employee’s conviction within 10 days after receiving notice of the conviction.
The Board reserves the right to interpret, revise, or discontinue any provision of this policy pursuant to the Suspension of Policies subhead in policy 2:240, Board Policy Development.
Adopted: May 4, 1998 Revised: January 27, 2014; February 24, 2020; February 27, 2023 Reviewed: February 26, 2024