502.10 - Search and Seizure

School district property is held in public trust by the Board.  School district authorities may, without a search warrant, search students, protected student areas, and/or student vehicles based on a reasonable and articulable suspicion that a school district policy, rule, regulation, or law has been violated.  The search shall be in a manner reasonable in scope to maintain order and discipline in the schools, promote the educational environment, and protect the safety and welfare of students, employees, and visitors to the school district facilities. 

School district authorities may also conduct periodic inspections of all, or a randomly selected number of, school lockers, desks, and other facilities or spaces owned by the district and provided as a courtesy to a student.  The furnishing of a locker, desk or other facility or space owned by the school and provided as a courtesy to a student, even if the student provides the lock for it, shall not create a protected student area and shall not give rise to an expectation of privacy with respect to the locker, desk, or other facility.

School authorities may seize any illegal, unauthorized, or contraband materials discovered in the search.  Items of contraband may include, but are not limited to, non-prescription controlled substances, marijuana, cocaine, amphetamines, barbiturates, apparatus used for controlled substances, alcoholic beverages, tobacco, weapons, explosives, poisons, stolen property, and any other item of which the possession or use of may violate Board policy or the law.  Such items are not to be possessed by a student while they are on school district property or on property within the jurisdiction of the school district; while on owned and/or operated school or chartered vehicles; while attending or engaged in school activities; and while away from school grounds if misconduct will directly affect the good order, efficient management and welfare of the school district.  Possession of such items will be grounds for disciplinary action including, but not limited to, suspension or expulsion and may be reported to local law enforcement officials.  The Board believes that illegal, unauthorized or contraband materials may cause material and substantial disruption to the school environment or presents a threat to the health and safety of students, employees, or visitors on the school district premises or property within the jurisdiction of the school district.

 

 

(April 6, 1981; June 15, 1992; November 20, 1995; May 18, 1998, March 15, 2010; March 21, 2011; January 19, 2015; August 19, 2019)