Pubdate: Mon, 22 Apr 2002 Source: Spruce Grove Examiner, The (CN AB) Copyright: 2002 The Grove Examiner Contact: http://www.sprucegroveexaminer.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1842 Author: Josephine Mah Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth) STUDENT INTERROGATION AND DRUG-FREE POLICY AMENDED The public school division's policy on interrogations, searches, and interviews by outside agencies has been tightened. Parkland School Division trustees approved changes to the policy at their April 16 meeting. After soliciting advice from the division's lawyers, trustees decided the policy needed to be updated to clarify locker searches. The amended document recognizes that the board owns the lockers, and school administrators have the right to inspect them if the principal or his designate has "reasonable grounds that a student is concealing something, possession of which is a violation of the law, or of school rules." Under the revised policy, students also have the opportunity to "provide consent for such a search and to be present, or to make voluntary disclosure of the suspected property." Students are also allowed to have an adult present at the search. Trustee Richard Mah said that puts a lot of responsibility on a child. "It might be intimidating for a 12 year-old to be making that decision." Administrators who perform the search will be held liable for any lost or stolen goods taken from the student. The policy was reviewed by the division's solicitors to ensure it complies with the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the parameters set out by the Supreme Court of Canada. Drugs At the same meeting, trustees reviewed and revised the Drug-Free Protocol to meet the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy (FOIP) act. A clause in the previous agreement had Parkland administrators sharing expulsion information with the Evergreen Catholic Separate Regional Division, but that was found to break FOIP laws. At the beginning of the school year, students must sign a locker agreement and review the Drug-Free Protocol with their parents before being issued a locker. The Drug-Free Protocol is a joint project by both school divisions and the local RCMP detachments to keep drugs and other contraband substances off school grounds. - --- MAP posted-by: Jackl