Adopted:          12/22/1998

Revised:           08/18/2008                                                                              446 - Rule

School District of Prairie Farm

Searches

1.  Where possible, the person to which the storage area is assigned and/or who owns the vehicle should be present for the inspection.

2. It is recommended that two members of the certified staff conduct the inspection together, particularly when the person assigned to the storage area and/or who owns the vehicle is not present. At least one of the inspectors must be an administrator, who has full responsibility for the inspection. In the absence of an administrator, his/her specific designee shall assume responsibility.

3. The inspector shall seize any or all items which are dangerous and/or illegal and which are in plain view upon opening the storage area. Reasonable searches among the personal effects contained within the area may be conducted when there is reasonable suspicion that the search shall provide evidence that the person has violated or is violating the law or school policy.

4. Any items that are seized during a search by school authorities must be safeguarded until determination has been made by the appropriate authorities for disposition of the items. Following are the guidelines to be followed when items are removed from a storage area:

            a. Items that are seized shall be held by the school for return to the adult            student, or a parent/guardian of a minor student, who shall be informed of             his/her right to obtain items that have been removed from the storage area.

             b. If items that were seized involve a violation of the law, the suspect material    shall be removed and turned over to law enforcement officials. The adult       student, or a parent/guardian of a minor student, shall be notified of items that             were removed and of the delivery thereof to law enforcement officials.

5. Any search by school officials shall be documented. Such documentation must include the following information:

            a. reason for the search

            b. information relied on for conducting the search

            c. storage area searched or vehicle searched

            d. list of items found

            e. list of items seized

            f. disposition of the matter

            g. signature of the person conducting the search

            h. signature of the witness

            i. date

            j. signature of person to whom items were released

This documentation report is placed in the school files for safekeeping and ready retrieval. Depending upon the search finding, the documentation may be used in subsequent school discipline or legal actions.

Cross Ref.:       446 Searches