Pubdate: Wed, 21 Apr 2004
Source: Dominion Post, The (Morgantown, WV)
Copyright: 2004 The Dominion Post
Contact:  http://www.dominionpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1426
Author: Jennifer McNally, The Dominion Post

POLICE FIND MARIJUANA AT UHS

Dogs Search Area During Lockdown

Police dogs from the Morgantown Police Department sniffed out
marijuana in two University High School students' cars during an
unannounced lockdown Monday afternoon.

No arrests were made. The two students involved will face an eight-day
suspension.

During the lockdown, school doors and hallways were blocked while dogs
searched the parking lot for 45 minutes, checking 60 cars out of 300
at the school.

UHS Principal Jim Forst made the announcement about the search at
Tuesday night's Board of Education meeting.

"We're in a situation where we're obligated to be proactive," Forst
said. "We owe it to our students to protect them from drug use.

"I just want to send the message, 'Not at my school.'"

Forst said the lockdown was scheduled because staff was beginning to
notice student behavior pointing to drug use.

"We thought it was time for a deterrent to that," he
said.

School Board Member Michael Yura suggested school drug searches should
also include student lockers.

"It's our responsibility to protect the students," he said. "The more
we can do to let them know we take this seriously, the better."

Superintendent Michael Vetere made clear that any sort of student
involvement with drugs will not be tolerated, and could lead to legal
prosecution.

"This isn't a problem just at UHS," Vetere said.

Vetere said students will often report other students for drug
use.

"We've been able to stop a lot of things and make the environment
right for the other students," Vetere said. "We're not going to invite
the bad element to stay there."
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake