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EASTON AREA
SCHOOL DISTRICT
No. 226
SECTION:
PUPILS
TITLE:
SEARCHES
ADOPTED:
March 5, 2007
REVISED:
226. SEARCHES
1.
Purpose
The Board acknowledges the need for safe storage of books, clothing, school
materials and personal property and may provide lockers for storage purposes.
2.
Authority
SC 510
It shall be the policy of the Board that all lockers are and shall remain the property of
the school district. As such, students shall have only a limited expectation of privacy
in their lockers.
No student may use a locker as a depository for a substance or object that is
prohibited by law, Board policy or district rules, or constitutes a threat to the health,
safety or welfare of the occupants of the school building or the building itself.
Title 22
Sec. 12.14
The Board reserves the right to authorize its employees to inspect a student's locker
at any time, based on reasonable suspicion, for the purpose of determining whether
the locker is being used improperly for the storage of contraband, a substance or
object the possession of which is illegal, or any material that poses a hazard to the
safety and order of the schools.
3.
Delegation of
Responsibility
The Board authorizes the administration to conduct random general searches of
lockers when the district has a compelling interest in protecting and preserving the
health, safety or welfare of the school population.
Title 22
Sec. 12.14
Students, parents/guardians and staff shall be notified at least annually, or more
often if deemed appropriate by administration, concerning the contents of this
policy.
The Superintendent or designee shall develop procedures to implement this policy.
The principal or designee shall be present whenever a student locker is inspected,
based on reasonable suspicion.
226. SEARCHES - Pg. 2
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Pol. 225
The principal shall open a student's locker for inspection on the request of a law
enforcement officer only on presentation of a duly authorized search warrant or on
the intelligent and voluntary consent of the student.
The principal shall be responsible for the safekeeping and proper disposal of any
substance, object or material found in a student's locker in violation of law, Board
policy or school rules.
The principal shall be responsible for promptly recording in writing each locker
inspection; such record shall include the reason(s) for the search, persons present,
objects found and their disposition.
School officials are authorized to search a student's personal possessions or motor
vehicle parked on school property when there is reasonable suspicion that the
student is violating law, Board policy or school rules, or poses a threat to the student
or the school population.
4.
Guidelines
Title 22
Sec. 12.14
Students shall assume responsibility for maintaining the security of their lockers.
Prior to an individual locker search, the student shall be notified and given an
opportunity to be present. However, when school authorities have a reasonable
suspicion that a locker contains materials which pose a threat to the health, welfare
or safety of the school population, student lockers may be searched without prior
warning.
Pol. 227
Searches conducted by the administration may include but not be limited to
utilization of certified drug dogs, metal detection units, or any device used to protect
the health, safety and welfare of the school population.
Weapons Search
Pol. 218.1
The district reserves the right to periodically conduct weapons searches of the entire
school population of a building. In the interest of providing a safe learning
environment, all students may be subject to search upon entering a school on any
given day as a precondition to attending school.
The searches will be conducted by school personnel and/or police officials. Students
will be required to stand in a line before a table and empty their pockets while their
backpacks, coats, purses, etc., are searched. Hand-held metal scanners may be
utilized in the searches. In the event the search area becomes too crowded, students
will be chosen at random or be checked before disembarking from school buses.
226. SEARCHES - Pg. 3
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In addition, this policy shall extend to students entering the building for activities
such as dances and other extracurricular activities.
References:
School Code – 24 P.S. Sec. 510
State Board of Education Regulations – 22 PA Code Sec. 12.14
Board Policy – 225, 227