District Develops Rehabilitative Approach to Students on Drugs

The Matawan Aberdeen Regional School District is taking a new approach to handling students who are using drugs or found in possession of drugs.

The current policy lays out disciplinary guidelines relative to how many times the policy has been offended, but do not differentiate between possession, drug use, distribution or selling. According to Superintendent David Healy, even though all four offenses involve drugs, the board does not feel they all necessarily merit the same consequences.

"We want to ensure that students with substance abuse issues are being identified and are receiving the appropriate therapeutic supports," Healy said. "The district has a zero tolerance for those students who sell or distribute drugs within any of our schools."

Students found distributing or selling drugs on school grounds are arrested and recommended to the board of education for expulsion, Healy said. A student found in possession or using drugs is generally suspended. However if a student has a substance abuse issue, Healy explained, then a long out of school suspension will likely only reinforce the problem.

The current policy allows for the school administration to interpret every offense on a case-by-case basis. Rather than create a new policy or change the current one, the board updated the district's intervention and referral procedures for a more consistent approach. 

"Consistency is important in managing a school district for implementing discipline and accountability. There is administrative discretion but when you go into the hand book and it talks about the first offense, there has to be a line between use and sales and distribution," Healy said.

The revised intervention and referral procedure includes a new partnership with CPC Behavioral Health, an outpatient counseling and psychiatric service with specialty areas in behavioral healthcare, addiction recovery, special education and residential services. The partnership does not cost the district any additional money, it is just an additional resource.

Healy said it was necessary to partner with an outpatient counseling and psychiatric service because in the past there was difficulty making appointments for students. Students suspected of substance abuse or a mental health issue are not allowed to return to school until they have been screened and evaluated, so the sooner the appointment the sooner the student may continue their education, Healy explained.

"We would utilize them (CPC Behavioral) for a number of things, depending on the need. They do a series of assessments, mental health assessments," Healy said, adding that the service also benefits students who may be displaying behavior that indicates they might hurt themselves or others or who need family counseling.

Additionally, the district also plans to create a team of representatives from the Matawan and Aberdeen police departments, Monmouth County mental heath services and the Monmouth County Probation Department. The team will meet between two and four times a year to discuss strategies to issues facing the district, including drug abuse, and truancy.