JIH - QUESTIONING AND SEARCHES OF STUDENTS AND STUDENTS' LOCKER/STORAGE FACILITIES
The School Board seeks to maintain a safe and orderly environment in the schools. School administrators may question and/or search students in accordance with this policy and accompanying administrative procedure (e.g., "Permitted Searches).
Students, their personal property, and their vehicles may be searched while on school property or at any school-sponsored event or activity upon reasonable suspicion that they possess any items or substances which are prohibited by Board policies and/or rules, or upon reasonable suspicion of a substantial threat to the safety, health, or welfare of the schools.
When a reasonable suspicion of a substantial threat to the safety, health, or welfare of the schools, students or staff exists, school administrators may search groups of students or the entire student body without individualized suspicion.
Student use of all school storage facilities, including but not limited to lockers, desks, and parking lots, is a privilege granted by the school. All storage facilities are school property and remain under the control, custody, and supervision of the school. Students have no expectation of privacy in school storage facilities or for any items placed in such storage facilities. School administrators have the authority to inspect and search storage facilities and their contents on a random basis, with or without reasonable suspicion, and without notice or consent, for violations of board policies or rules. Canine patrols may be used to conduct searches anywhere on school property but only if conducted in compliance with JIH-R and other applicable Board policies or rules.
If a search produces evidence that a student has violated or is violating Board policies and/or Board rules, such evidence may be seized and impounded by school administrators and appropriate disciplinary action may be taken. Evidence may be forwarded to law enforcement authorities as required by law or when there is a substantial threat to the safety, health, or welfare of the schools, students or staff, or where referrals to police are otherwise permitted by school policy.
A student who refuses to comply with a "Permitted Search" directive may be subject to disciplinary action, including the disciplinary consequences for the suspected violation, based on reasonable suspicion.
This policy and the accompanying procedure will be included in student/parent handbooks.
Cross reference:
- JIH-R- Questioning and Searched of Students Administrative Procedure
- JICH- Student Use of Alcohol, Drugs, Tobacco and other Prohibited Substances
- JICIA- Weapons, Violence, and School Safety JK- Student Discipline
- KLG- Relations with Law Enforcement Authorities
- KLG-R- Relations with Law Enforcement Authorities Administrative Procedure
Adopted:
- September 9, 2008
Revised:
- June 9, 2015