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JIH

SEARCHES OF SCHOOL STORAGE FACILITIES, STUDENTS,

AND STUDENTS’ BELONGINGS

The Board of Directors of M.S.A.D. No. 71 seeks to maintain a safe and orderly environment in the schools. There has been an increase in the presence of drugs in the M.S.A.D. No. 71 schools; recent incidents in Maine and throughout the United States have also caused concern about the possible presence of drugs and weapons in our schools. To promote a safe and orderly environment, school administrators are authorized to search school storage facilities, students, and students’ belongings in accordance with this policy and accompanying administrative procedure.

Students may not bring, possess, or store at school any items or substances which are prohibited by law, Board policies and/or school rules, or which interfere with the operations, discipline, or general welfare of the school.

An individual student, and the personal property in the individual student’s possession, may be searched if reasonable grounds exist to suspect that the student has violated or is violating Board policies, school rules, and/or federal or State law.

Student use of all school storage facilities, including but not limited to lockers and desks, is a privilege granted by the school and not a right. All storage facilities are school property and remain under the control, custody and supervision of the school. Students have no expectation of privacy in school storage facilities or in any items placed in such storage facilities. School administrators have the authority to inspect and search school storage facilities and their contents on a random basis, with or without reasonable suspicion, and without notice or consent.

Student use of school parking lots is also a privilege and not a right. School administrators are authorized to patrol parking lots and conduct plain view inspections of the interior of vehicles. School administrators are also authorized to conduct reasonable suspicion searches of vehicles and their contents, including containers located therein.

Canine patrols, using dogs trained to detect drugs and/or weapons, may be used to identify individual lockers or student vehicles to be searched by school administrators. Canine patrols may be authorized to take place anywhere on school property. If a canine patrol indicates the presence of drugs and/or weapons in a student’s locker or vehicle, that location will be subject to search by school administrators. Canine patrols may only be authorized by the Superintendent.

If a search produces evidence that a student has violated or is violating the law, Board policies and/or school rules, such evidence may be seized and impounded by school administrators and appropriate disciplinary action may be taken. Evidence may be forwarded to law enforcement authorities as required by law or as deemed appropriate by school administrators.

School staff, students, and parents shall be informed of this policy on an annual basis through handbooks and/or other means selected by school administrators.

The Superintendent is authorized to develop and implement, with input from legal counsel, administrators, staff and others as appropriate, any administrative procedures necessary to carry out this policy. Such administrative procedures shall be subject to Board approval.

Cross Reference: JIH-R – Searches of School Storage Facilities, Students, and Students’ Belongings - Administrative Procedure

Adopted: 06/11/01