Policy 3231 Searches and Seizure
To maintain order and security in the schools, school authorities are authorized to conduct reasonable searches of school property and equipment, as well as of students and their personal effects.
School Property and Equipment as well as Personal Effects Left by Students
School authorities may inspect and search school property and equipment owned or controlled by the school (such as lockers, desks, and parking lots), as well as personal effects left by the student, without notice or consent of the student. This applies to student vehicles parked on school property. Building principals may require each high school student, in return for the privilege of parking on school property, to consent in writing to school searches of his or her vehicle and personal effects therein, when reasonable suspicion of wrongdoing exists. The Superintendent may request the assistance of law enforcement officials to conduct inspections and searches of lockers, desks, parking lots, and other school property and equipment for illegal drugs, weapons or other illegal or dangerous substances or material, including searches conducted through the use of specially trained dogs.
Students
School authorities may search the student and/or the student’s personal effects in the student’s possession when there are reasonable grounds for suspecting that the search will produce evidence the particular student has violated or is violating the law or the District’s student conduct rules. The search itself must be conducted in a manner that is reasonably related to its objectives and not excessively intrusive in light of the age and sex of the student and the nature of the infraction.
Seizure of Property
If a search produces evidence that the student has violated or is violating, either the law or the District’s policies or rules, such evidence may be seized and impounded by school authorities, and disciplinary action may be taken. When appropriate, such evidence may be transferred to law enforcement authorities.
Policy History:
Adopted on: April 8, 2003
Revised on: