Pubdate: Wed, 15 Nov 2006 Source: Bismarck Tribune (ND) Copyright: 2006 The Bismarck Tribune Contact: http://www.bismarcktribune.com Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/47 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?237 (Drug Dogs) SCHOOL PLANS TO USE DRUG DOGS The School Board here plans to use drug-sniffing dogs to check parking lots around school buildings. "We're looking at this as preventative," said Ron Gruwell, assistant superintendent of secondary education. The School Board on Monday unanimously approved putting the dogs to work in all parking areas surrounding the schools, whether district owned or not, and including side streets. The School Board was told by its attorney that the use of the dogs is not considered an illegal search. "It's what you do after a dog would hit on a car that could be problematic," Gruwell said. If there's a "hit" on a vehicle that does not belong to a student or staff member, police would be notified to handle the situation. The dogs will be used on a trial basis until June, when the board will determine if they want to use them permanently. Drug dogs have been used to search lockers at the high school for about 10 years. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom