Saturday, August 28, 2010
Drug Case
As the result of a random drug search conducted in your school, three students were identified with illegal substances. One of the three students is identified as a student with a disability and that student was also identified as the major distributor of school drugs. Describe how you will react/take actions in this case.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
This would be a very touchy situation as any case involving drugs would be. With regards to their IEP you would have to go by the law and abide totally by what the law says you can and can't do. Although, you must first contact the local authorities and then go from there. Then contact the right personnel from the central office. The local law enforcement would then take the action necessary and as an administrator you would do the same. You have got to keep in mind to abide by their IEP especially in regards to suspension or disciplinary action. You should also determine if their accomodations they may need to be addressed. As a school leader one must be fair with all students and abide by legalities as stated.
ReplyDeleteI would contact the local police or whoever is designated by district policy first. Considering this is a drug related issue on school grounds I would let them take the lead and follow up with school disciplinary actions after. Another step that would follow contacting the authorities is letting central office in on the situation. I understand that certain IEP regulations might have to be taken into consideration, but also realizing that all students in this situation would be treated equally.
ReplyDeleteZack Dotson
Once again, this is a very difficult situation to be in as an instructional leader. As noted in my fellow colleagues’ blog entries, I, too, would first call the local authorities to let them know about the three students identified with illegal substances.
ReplyDeleteI would then contact the superintendant regarding the incident so that he/ she would be aware of the situation. The superintendant would be notified, too, of the child with the disability being involved as well.
I would also contact these students' parents to let them know about their child involved.
As in all of these cases, I think it is very important to make sure you know your school system’s policy and the law, as we must abide by these living documents. It is also important to be consistent with how you have dealt with these types of incidents in the past.
Suspension and/or expulsion would be recommended by me to the superintendant based on my school system’s drug offense policy, and the students would each be treated fairly based on the policy set forth by our school system.
As far as the child that has a disability, we would have to review his/her IEP to establish if there is a pattern of behavior and see if this offense has a relationship with his/her disability. After establishing these facts, we should act accordingly based on his/her IEP and the state law when deciding discipline actions, future educational plans for this child, etc; Submitted by Amanda G. Gibson
I agree with the above statements that this is a very touchy situation. I would contact the local authorities providing them with the information of three students having an illegal substance. I would also contact Central Office to let the Superintendent know of the situation. I think that Amanda stated something very important: We must be aware of our school system's policy and the law so that we could follow these directly.
ReplyDeleteThe students would face the penalty that policy says is suitable for such a situation. As far as the child with the IEP, the IEP would have to be reviewed so that the discipline actions are appropriate.
Alana Sexton
I would first contact our school resource officer and Central Office. There would be suspensions for the three involved, but if I understand correctly, students with disabilities may not receive more than ten days suspension. So, I would first check to see how many days this student has had previously if any and proceed from there. I would also check with our special ed department in Central Office. I would check the student county handbook to see how many days it recommends for students caught with drugs. I am sure that I would also be attending a court hearing for these students.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Shelly in the fact that I would first contact the school resource officer and the superintendent. I would also follow school policy for students involved with drug paraphenilia. Each student involved in the incident would definately need to be suspended for a minimum of 10 days and would have to come before the board before re-entering pending a further investigation. The student with disabilities would need to go through a manifestation determination (if suspended for more than 10 days)to determine if the occurance was due to his diability. Placement for the student with disabilities in an alternative school setting would be considered at the IEP meeting. I also would plan for attending court hearings for the three students.
ReplyDeleteI am assuming that the random drug search has been conducted by the local police department (That is how it works in my division.). At that point, since the law enforcement officials know the situation, I would tell them that we needed to contact both our school's SPED teacher and the county's SPED coordinator. (They are the experts on the laws for SPED students, so they would be able to advise law enforcement how to handle the situation.)
ReplyDeleteAgreed. Will that suffice?
ReplyDeleteI do not believe this student's learning disability (physical disability?) will play much of a role in his abuse of the law. This student wasn't just using, but distributing. I cannot imagine the judge pouring over the student's IEP.
I will let the legal system roll, and probably eventually be aiding the child with home bound instruction or re-enrolling them next year when he returns from expulsion.
As mentioned above this is a touchy situation. I would make sure to do everything possible to make sure the student legally is being provided services as the disciplinary actions are taking place.
ReplyDeleteI would contact the resource officer and have the student punished to the full effect of the law. I would also contact the director of special education and other member of the central office to make sure everything is legal and consistent for state regulations involving student expulsion and punishment. I would make sure his IEP case manager was on top of the situation as well. After the student with an IEP 10 days are up there would have to be a placement meeting. The committee would determine what is best for the student and the other students in the school. The other students involved would follow the school's policy as well as charges from the school resource officer and law enforcement. I would make sure to have everything in mind for the students involved in this situation and the other students in the school.
All three students would be immediately referred to the SRO. From here it is in the hands of the law. Each student will be given the punishment described in the county policy. I would also make sure the Director of Special Education is contacted. If I am told there are special steps to take with the student with disabilities, I will take them. By letting the Director of Special Education know, I will hopefully be covered in any special circumstances with a student having a disability.
ReplyDeleteJerad Ward
I would hold the students to the school policy then let law enforcement take over. I believe it would be up to the parents to seek legal counsel. I would have the school guidance counselor and social workers offer available resources for the students, otherwise, actions have consequences. Phuertas
ReplyDeleteI would certainly make sure our policy supervisor was advised, as well as the SPED coordinator. Assuming all searches were legal, I would then assign punishment within the guidelines of the law concerning a SPED student. However, it is my opinion that the seriousness of the charges merit punishment that will detour the act again.
ReplyDeleteI would notify the SRO and let him take the lead on the criminal/legal aspects. I would definitely contact the superintendent and director of special education at the central office. I would work with the director of special education, student's IEP case manage, and IEP committee, and we would follow the letter of the law, holding all necessary meetings. However, I don't think this student's disability would play much of a role, but we would still do our part to ensure everything is followed and conducted as it supposed to be.
ReplyDeleteRobert Sturgill