Source: Los Angeles Times (CA) Contact: 213-237-4712 Website: http://www.latimes.com/ Pubdate: Thu, 27 Aug 1998 Author: Jessica Garrison VENICE HIGH TO GET DRUG-SNIFFING DOGS Campus will be first in Los Angeles school district to have canines sniff backpacks, lockers and desks. School board OKs one-year pilot program. VENICE -- The Los Angeles school board has approved a plan to bring drug-sniffing dogs into Venice High School to check students' backpacks, lockers and desks. It is the first time canines will be used on campus in the Los Angeles Unified School District. "We are very pleased that we got the green light to proceed," said Venice High Principal Bud Jacobs. He said he doesn't think the school has any more of a drug problem than other schools, but that the dogs will be "a very strong deterrent." "What we are shooting for is zero presence of drugs," Jacobs said. The $2,500 one-year pilot project approved Tuesday was spearheaded by Venice High parent Claudia Border, who serves on the school's LEARN reform committee. A dog and its handler will show up at school unannounced and sniff out drugs and gunpowder in backpacks, desks, lockers and cars. The dogs will not sniff students, who will leave the classroom before the dog enters. Jacobs said the school will hold several assemblies for students and parents after school opens Sept. 8 to introduce the dogs. Although Jacobs said he believes most students and parents support the plan, at least one parent has contacted the American Civil Liberties Union regarding the legality of bringing the canines on campus. ACLU officials declined to take the case, but did say they might be willing to get involved if they believe school officials are violating students' civil rights in implementing the program. Copyright 1998 Los Angeles Times. - --- Checked-by: Joel W. Johnson