A new chemical use policy adopted by the Austin School Board puts emphasis on keeping a student engaged in positive activities rather than isolating students by punishment.

At a cursory glance, it would seem the policy is simply easier on the offender, not tougher.

But according to Activities Director Lisa Quednow, the focus is actually geared toward providing more help for a student making poor choices.

The old policy — that went into effect 12 years ago — was plenty punitive. If a student was in violation, he was benched for nine weeks, or nine contests, whichever was greater, for the very first offense. If the student reported the infraction to Quednow within 72 hours, the suspension from the activity was reduced to three weeks.

A second violation under the old policy would bring a one-year absence from the activity; if reported within 72 hours, that time would be cut by half. Students were required to attend practices and sit on the bench during games, and depending on the number of violations, could have given random urine analysis, attend counseling sessions, and other stipulations.

A third violation would see a student being given another calendar year of ineligibility and completion of a chemical dependency program, if the transgression was chemically-related.

Under the new policy, however, the first violation brings ineligibility for two contests and 14 days; after a second offense, the violator cannot compete for 21 days or six contests; and for a third, 12 contests or 28 calendar days, whichever is greater. Students continue to attend practices and games, but are not allowed to participate.

The policy was drafted by an activities advisory committee, made up of school board members, parents and coaches; a subset of that committee also involved community members, including Steve King, the director for Correctional Services in Mower County. District officials are trying to review all policies every 12 years, Quednow said.

The consensus for the chemical use policy was to have a policy that supports the student in a positive way by keeping him  or her close to a circle of support that comes from positive teammates and coaches. That is a dramatic turn from the old policy, whose “tough love” approach might also isolate the student, leaving him or her on a springboard to violate the policy again.

Quednow said the new policy is especially important now “with today’s chemical use and the culture of today’s chemical use.”

She hopes to see more done with the Captains Council, made up of team captains who could provide more positive role modeling. The planning and implementation (P & I) grant work, done with Bill Spitzer, who works within the school, also focuses on positive choices.

Overall, chemical use is not a hugely pressing issue, but every student is important. On an average year, 10-15 students violate the policy out of about 500 athletes.

Chemical use is identified as:

•Use or consume, in possession of beverage containing alcohol

•Use or consume, have in possession of tobacco

•Use or consume, have in possession, buy, sell or give away, any other controlled  or drug paraphernalia.

•Use or consume, have in possession, buy sell or give away any substance or product where the intent of such use of the substance or product is to induce intoxication, excitement, or stupefaction of the central nervous system except under the direction and supervision of a medical doctor. Such substances can include synthetic drugs, glue, gasoline, glum aerosol devices, bath salts and any substances addressed by Minnesota or federal law.