Pubdate: Wed, 28 Jun 2006
Source: Portsmouth Herald (NH)
Copyright: 2006 Seacoast Newspapers
Contact:  http://www.seacoastonline.com/news/index.htm
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1157
Author: Emily Aronson
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

SCHOOLS AIM TO BROADEN DRUG HUNTS

PORTSMOUTH -- The school district hopes to expand its 
search-and-seizure policy by spelling out that students can expect 
their cars, lockers and desks to be searched at any time, and that 
police canines will be used on school property.

The School Board's policy committee reviewed a draft of the new rules 
Monday. The current policy is brief and addresses inspection of 
student lockers only to safeguard students' "well-being."

Assistant City Attorney Kathleen Dwyer presented the committee with a 
draft of the expanded policy, which will go before the School Board 
for approval at a later date.

The aim of the policy is to address students who may possess alcohol, 
illegal substances, weapons or stolen property. A handful of arrests 
took place at the high school this year for students allegedly 
possessing illegal substances.

The proposed draft said the superintendent, principal, teacher or 
security personnel have the right "to detain and search any student" 
on the premises of School Department property or while "attending or 
in transit to" a school-sponsored event.

"Lockers, desks and other storage areas or compartments may be 
subject to searches at any time with or without reasonable 
suspicion," the draft stated.

It also noted that authorized personnel may "arrange for the use of 
trained canines to aid in the search process." A few years ago, the 
Police Department conducted a "drug sweep" through the high school 
using canines. The sweep did not turn up any drugs, but Police Chief 
Michael Magnant has said periodic searches deter students from 
bringing drugs to school.

Before a joint police-school meeting this May, Magnant said the 
department had offered to do other canine searches, but the School 
Department had not responded.

The proposed policy also says student parking lots can be subjected 
to search-and-seizure rules, including canine searches. It warned 
that students and/or vehicles should maintain "a lesser expectation 
of privacy" in designated parking areas.

Students should also expect to be searched under the proposed policy. 
The draft states that searches must be conducted by authorized, 
same-sex personnel, and strip searches are forbidden.

Superintendent Bob Lister said rules allowing personal searches are 
necessary given that students have tried to hide prohibited items 
under clothing.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman