Committee forwards revised alcohol, drugs and tobacco policy to full board for first reading after broader discussion

The Bridgeport School District Policy and Personnel Committee voted March 12 to forward a comprehensive draft policy on alcohol, drugs and tobacco (P5131-16) to the full board for a first reading after extended discussion about disciplinary tiers and supports.

Dr. Sacchi told the committee the proposal would replace two existing policies (Policy 5136 on smoking and Policy 5137 on drugs and alcohol). He said the draft broadens the definitions of controlled substances and “under the influence,” expressly includes electronic nicotine-delivery systems and vapor products, and addresses performance-enhancing substances, medical marijuana and CBD.

Committee members asked for clarification on consequences and supports. Several members noted the district’s student code of conduct already contains disciplinary measures and asked staff to align the policy to the code rather than impose new, automatic penalties. One committee member asked whether first offenses automatically carried out-of-school suspension; others suggested building-tiered responses that include counseling, assessment referrals and restorative options alongside discipline. Dr. Sacchi said the athletic director will be consulted about sport-specific provisions, such as game suspensions and athlete contracts.

A committee member noted the draft includes a factual error describing marijuana as categorically illegal in Connecticut; another member said marijuana laws vary by age and that legal status for adults 21 and over must be reflected accurately in policy language. The committee also discussed whether vaping should be treated differently from other substances; staff said the current draft groups tobacco, alcohol and controlled substances under a single policy.

Given the complexity, the committee voted to send the draft to the full board for first reading and asked staff to return with: specific tiered disciplinary steps aligned to the code of conduct, recommended assessments or counseling resources, input from the athletic director on sport-specific consequences, and confirmation of statutory references and legal language (including medical marijuana and adult-use statutes). The committee also noted the policy packet includes background pages and urged staff to remove suggested drafting language that is not intended for the public policy text.