Pubdate: Tue, 26 Sep 2006
Source: Daily Sentinel, The (OH)
Copyright: 2006 The Daily Sentinel
Contact:  http://www.mydailysentinel.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4282
Author: Beth Sergent
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

DRUG DOGS SNIFF OUT HITS BUT NO DRUGS AT SOUTHERN

RACINE - Three drug dogs sniffed out hits but no illegal drugs yesterday at 
both Southern Elementary and Southern High School during what was described 
as a "proactive" district lock down required by law.

Special drug dogs meant to sniff out a variety of narcotics had hits on 16 
lockers at the high school and four at the elementary school. The dogs were 
under the control of the Meigs County Sheriff's Office and law enforcement 
from Parkersburg, W.Va.

These hits are defined as the dog detecting what could be the odor of 
illegal drugs. However, if the dog stopped at a student's locker this 
doesn't mean that student is taking narcotics and could mean either the 
student was exposed to drugs in a second-hand manner or it could mean the 
adjoining locker was the actual "hit." Adjoining lockers were also searched.

At Southern High School the locker rooms were searched as were the 
downstairs and upstairs lockers, FFA lockers, shop lockers and then lockers 
at the elementary school. Southern administrators searched the lockers 
where the hits were found to be in compliance with the district's search 
and seizure bylaws. A few locks required cutting but will be replaced.

The searches began with a lock down drill at 8:40 a.m. and was over by 9:30 
a.m. The lock down drill consists of an announcement over the public 
address system instructing students to stay in their rooms and out of 
sight. The classroom doors were then shut and locked with the lights turned 
out. These types of lock down or "safety drills" became prevalent after the 
shootings at Columbine High School. These safety drills are to protect 
students against dangers such as an act of terrorism, a person possessing a 
deadly weapon or dangerous ordnance, or other act of violence.

House Bill 422 requires public schools in Ohio hold these types of safety 
drills. Unlike fire drills and tornado drills schools must now certify in 
writing to local law enforcement officials that the safety drill was 
conducted. School officials can even be subject to a $1,000 fine for 
failing to conduct these required drills. These new requirements take 
effect on Sept. 28 so Southern was a little ahead of the game by completing 
the safety drill early.

"The important thing is we want parents to know our schools are safe and 
that nothing was found," Tony Deem, Southern High School principal said. 
"Overall the drill was a success and we learned from the process."
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