Pubdate: Sat, 17 Mar 2007
Source: Jackson Sun News (TN)
Copyright: 2007 The Jackson Sun
Contact:  http://www.jacksonsun.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1482
Author: Tajuana Cheshier

SCHOOLS UNDER RANDOM DRUG SEARCH POLICIES

Jackson-Madison County Schools superintendent  authorizes new policy

Police soon will begin using drug dogs for random  searches of 
Jackson-Madison County Schools buses and  buildings that serve fifth- 
through 12-grade students.

Superintendent Nancy Zambito authorized the new policy  this week. 
Police began conducting random searches for  drugs in the parking 
lots of school properties earlier  this school year, though nothing 
has been found so far,  to Zambito's knowledge.

"What prompted this decision was there was concern  among the 
principals, and I received several calls from  parents whose children 
have seen drugs on the school  buses," Zambito said Friday. "We will 
start the  searches before the school year is over," she added. 
"We're very lucky to have the wonderful relationship  that we have 
with our law enforcement agencies."

Zambito emphasized that students will in no way have  contact with the dogs.

For example, when a bus is searched, it will happen  when the bus 
arrives at school. Before the search,  students will be told to leave 
their backpacks, purses,  instrument cases and all other carry-on 
items on the  bus. The students will be allowed to retrieve their 
belongings after the dogs have been removed from the  bus and are at 
least 100 feet away from it, according  to a letter Zambito posted on 
the school system's Web  site Thursday to inform parents and 
guardians of  students.

Buses will be searched according to a random schedule  developed by 
law enforcement, according to Zambito's  letter. Every bus serving 
students in fifth through  12th grade will be searched at least one 
time during  the school year.

School buildings and buses also will be searched at the  request of principals.

Police won't search buses and schools that serve  kindergarten 
through fourth-grade students.

Anthony Hardeman, a student at Liberty Technology  Magnet High 
School, said he hasn't seen any drug  paraphernalia on the bus he 
rides to school. But he's  all right with the searches.

"I don't mind because I don't have anything to hide,"  Hardeman said. 
"I think it's a good idea."

Zambito hopes word of random searches will deter  students from 
bringing drugs to school.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Elaine