Pubdate: Wed, 15 Mar 2006
Source: Providence Journal, The (RI)
Copyright: 2006 The Providence Journal Company
Contact:  http://www.projo.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/352
Author: Katie Mulvaney, Journal Staff Writer
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?225 (Students - United States)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?237 (Drug Dogs)

STUDENT SUSPENDED AFTER DRUG SEARCH AT SOUTH KINGSTOWN  HIGH SCHOOL

SOUTH KINGSTOWN -- One student was suspended after the  police 
conducted the first-ever drug search at South  Kingstown High School.

Five drug-sniffing police dogs inspected lockers and  the parking 
lots on Friday morning as students and  staff remained in the 
classrooms under a lockdown  drill.

The dogs -- supplied by the Westerly, Narragansett and  the State 
Police -- detected drugs in five lockers,  Capt. Jeffrey Allen said 
yesterday. As a result  administrators searched 15 lockers as the 
police stood  by, he said.

A small amount of marijuana was found in one. The  16-year-old boy 
determined to be in possession of the  drug was suspended from school 
activities for five days  and has been referred to drug counseling in 
lieu of  Family Court, according to police reports.

The dogs also indicated a presence of drugs in two  cars, but none 
were found after the students consented  to a search of their 
vehicles, Allen said.

Principal Robert B. McCarthy Jr. said he consulted with  Police Chief 
Vincent Vespia about undertaking a search  months ago as a means of 
"ensuring that students are in  a safe, drug-free environment."

He made the decision to conduct the drill, which would  also test the 
school's emergency capabilities, in  conjunction with Supt. Robert 
Hicks and his assistant  principal, he said. Any staff or 
administrators who  were not directly involved weren't notified to 
ensure  secrecy, he said. The School Committee learned about  the 
drill Friday -- after the fact.

The search was not a reaction to an alarming drug  problem, McCarthy 
said. But he pointed to School  Accountability for Learning and 
Teaching surveys over  the past two school years that indicated that 
as many  as 35 percent of students questioned had been offered  drugs.

According to state Department of Education data, 10  students were 
suspended for possession of drugs in 2002  and 2003.

"I don't know if the problem in South Kingstown is any  different 
from any other school district," McCarthy  said. But, he said, he was 
pleased to have sent the  message to students that drugs will not be 
tolerated in  the school.

He said that although only one student was found to be  in 
possession, the district could not conclude that the  school is 
drug-free. Searches will be conducted  periodically, he said.
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