Student alcohol abuse policy, prevention programs mulled by RR school board

RIO RANCHO — Rio Rancho Public School employees could face disciplinary action if they do not immediately report any instances of student substance abuse at school or during school-sponsored events, according to a draft district policy considered Monday by the school board.

The RRPS Board of Education also approved two contracts totaling up to $20,000 to provide Independence High School students with education on drinking while driving prevention.

Here’s a look at the draft policy and details of the program.

Reporting student substance abuse

One notable revision throughout the proposed policy is that it provides definitions of what students are not allowed to have: prohibited legal substances, illicit drugs or mood-altering substances.

Michelle Havill, executive director of student services, said in an interview Monday following her presentation to the board that broad definitions of terms “leaves room for subjectivity,” so the district proposed changes.

Whereas the current policy says school employees have a “mandatory, nondiscretionary duty” to report drug or alcohol abuse within three days of the time of the incident, the new policy states these reports must be made immediately if it occurs during instructional hours or at a school-sponsored event.

The three-day timeframe is allowed if substance abuse occurs off campus or over the weekend, or if at the time of the incident the student is not a danger to themselves or others, according to Havill.

Like the current policy, reports by school employees should be made to the student’s principal or assistant principal.

However, neither the current or proposed policy states exact disciplinary action if a school employee disobeys. But during the recent school board meeting, RRPS Superintendent Sue Cleveland said a teacher’s license could be impacted.

“So, it’s really important that we get this information out to our staff, that they realize the importance (of reporting drug and alcohol abuse),” she said.

Cleveland also noted moral and ethical responsibilities that come with reporting such student misconduct.

Havill said she believes the current policy effectively tells school employees what is expected of them, but the proposed revisions are more precise and clarifies any confusion over the three-day rule.

“Anything could happen (with a student engaging in substance abuse), so it’s really a proactive away to ensure that a student is not only reported immediately, but they’re supervised through that reporting,” Havill said.

Local DWI programThe board also approved one-year contracts for the Sandoval County Local Driving While Intoxicated Program and the DWI Prevention and Intervention Program.

Both are longstanding programs with Independence High School, the school district’s credit recovery institution, designed to provide “evidence-based, culturally responsive and age-appropriate intervention” programming, said IHS Principal Jessica Sanchez during the board meeting.

LDWI implements a curriculum called “Health Rocks!” for approximately 45 students, teaching them “refusal skills and risk analysis,” Sanchez told the board. Students will complete pre- and post-assessments of the program and engage in community-based prevention activities before they are awarded a certificate.

The DWI program has IHS students make public service announcements, billboards and posters addressing underage drinking, laws regarding providing alcohol to youth and the dangers of drinking and driving.

“Together, these programs strengthen our school’s ability to delivery high-quality, meaningful prevention education that empowers students and promotes safer, healthier communities,” Sanchez told the board, before asking members to approve the contracts.

In an interview following the board meeting, Sandy Ramos, community services manager for DWI Prevention and Intervention, said the contract approvals marks the continuance of a multi-year relationship between the county and Rio Rancho schools in DWI prevention. The DWI programs are also available at schools in Cuba and Bernalillo, she said.