3230P: Student Privacy and Searches

Searches of Students and Their Property

A student is subject to search by district staff if reasonable grounds exist to suspect that evidence of a violation of the law or school rules will be uncovered. School staff will report a student's suspicious activity to the principal prior to initiating a search, except in emergency situations. A search is required when there are reasonable grounds to suspect a student has a firearm on school grounds, transportation or at school events.

A. Establishing reasonable grounds

The following review of the basis for the search should occur before conducting a search:

1. Identify: 1) the student's suspicious conduct, behavior, or activity; 2) the source of the information; and 3) the reliability of the source of such information.

2. If suspicion could be confirmed, would such conduct be a violation of the law or school rules?

B. Conducting the search

If the principal, or his or her designee, determines that reasonable grounds exist to search a student's clothing, personal effects, desk, locker, assigned storage area, or automobile, the search will be conducted as follows:

1. If evidence of criminal activity is suspected to be present, and prosecution by civil authorities will be recommended if confirmed by the search, consult law enforcement officials regarding the appropriateness of a search by a law enforcement officer

2. If evidence of violation of a school rule is suspected, and if confirmed that the search will be handled solely as a student discipline action, proceed to search by asking the student to remove all items from pockets, purses, handbags, backpacks, gym bags, etc.

3. If the student refuses to cooperate in a personal search, school officials may proceed to search the student the student’s personal belonging, desk, locker, or automobile.

Locker Searches

Lockers, desks, and storage areas are the property of the school district. When assigned a locker, desk, or storage area, a student will be responsible for its proper care. A student may be subject to a fine for any willful damage to school property. Students are encouraged to keep their assigned lockers closed and locked.

A student's locker desk or storage area may be searched by district staff if reasonable grounds exist to suspect that evidence of a violation of the law or school rules will be uncovered. School staff will report a student's suspicious activity to the principal prior to initiating a search, except in emergency situations when the risk of harm to students or staff demands immediate action.

Principals may search all lockers, desks, or storage areas without prior notice given to students and without reasonable suspicion that the search will yield evidence of any particular student's violation of the law or school rules.

Administrative inspections, or health and welfare inspections, may be conducted at any time for the purpose of locating misplaced library books, textbooks, or other school property or to ensure that all lockers, desks, or storage areas are being kept clean and free from potential health or safety hazards. Periodic inspections of lockers will reinforce the district's ownership of lockers and the minimal expectation of privacy students have in the contents of their lockers.

During a search of all student lockers, if the school official conducting the search discovers any container within the locker which may conceal contraband, the container may be searched according to district procedures governing searches of students and their property. A “container” for the purpose of this policy may include, but is not limited to: an article of clothing, a handbag, purse, backpack, gym bag or any other item in which contraband material may be concealed.