Pubdate: Sun, 23 Jul 2006 Source: Telegraph (NH) Copyright: 2006 Telegraph Publishing Company Contact: http://www.nashuatelegraph.com Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/885 Author: Ashley Smith, Telegraph Staff SCHOOL CONSIDERS DRUG DOG SEARCHES HUDSON - Superintendent Randy Bell is drafting a policy that would allow the police drug-sniffing dog to be used at Alvirne High School, he said. The issue has come up before but was revisited at a school board meeting last week, Bell said. The discussion came two weeks after The Telegraph published an article detailing the concerns of a parent who believes the school has a drug problem and wants the dog to be allowed inside for random searches. According to board member David Bouchard, police have offered to make the dog available in the past for school searches, but high school administrators haven't taken advantage until now. "Like everything else, once a parent makes noise, it gets dealt with," said Bouchard, who supports the drug dog being used to search Alvirne and doesn't think a formal policy is necessary to allow it. "Why do we need a policy in regards to a dog that's going to be a drug deterrent?" Bouchard said. "Why can't the dog just walk through the hallways during business hours . . . as an employee or member of the public could?" Bell, who described the policy as one that would outline "a variety of approaches to dealing with drugs," doesn't believe Alvirne has a serious drug problem, he said. "I don't think there is any school with 1,500 youngsters that doesn't have some problem with drugs," Bell said. "I don't think we're outside the norm." Principal Bryan Lane didn't return a phone call Friday seeking comment. Police Chief Richard Gendron said the department's dog has participated in drug searches at schools in other communities, but not at Alvirne. Police wouldn't conduct a search without being asked by administrators, but, "We've always made the dog available as a resource to the school," Gendron said. After the meeting last week, board members asked the superintendent to draft a policy that would permit the dog to come to Alvirne. Bouchard would like quarterly, surprise walkthroughs to be part of the normal drug-prevention activities, he said. However, Gendron stressed police need a specific reason to search the school; they aren't going to just walk in and search student lockers at random, he said. "We're not going to violate their rights," Gendron said. "We cannot line up everybody in the school gym and tell them to empty their pockets." Valid reasons include a teacher smelling marijuana or suspecting that a student is under the influence, but it would be up to school administrators to decide if they want police to bring the dog, Gendron said. Joann Auclair, the Hudson parent who submitted a letter to The Telegraph's editor expressing concern about drug use at Alvirne, favors random drug searches. Auclair's teenage son told her drugs are readily available for sale at Alvirne after she discovered drugs in his room, she said.youngsters that doesn't have some problem with drugs," Bell said. "I don't think we're outside the norm." Principal Bryan Lane didn't return a phone call Friday seeking comment. Police Chief Richard Gendron said the department's dog has participated in drug searches at schools in other communities, but not at Alvirne. Police wouldn't conduct a search without being asked by administrators, but, "We've always made the dog available as a resource to the school," Gendron said. After the meeting last week, board members asked the superintendent to draft a policy that would permit the dog to come to Alvirne. Bouchard would like quarterly, surprise walkthroughs to be part of the normal drug-prevention activities, he said. However, Gendron stressed police need a specific reason to search the school; they aren't going to just walk in and search student lockers at random, he said. "We're not going to violate their rights," Gendron said. "We cannot line up everybody in the school gym and tell them to empty their pockets." Valid reasons include a teacher smelling marijuana or suspecting that a student is under the influence, but it would be up to school administrators to decide if they want police to bring the dog, Gendron said. Joann Auclair, the Hudson parent who submitted a letter to The Telegraph's editor expressing concern about drug use at Alvirne, favors random drug searches. Auclair's teenage son told her drugs are readily available for sale at Alvirne after she discovered drugs in his room, she said. Despite the policy talk, Auclair isn't confident that the drug dog will actually be used at Alvirne next year, she said. "I think they're discussing it only because the spotlight was put on them," she said. Auclair wasn't at the meeting last week because she didn't know about it, she said. A meeting announcement wasn't posted on the town or school district Web site, as is customary, and The Telegraph didn't receive its usual meeting notice. Bouchard said he wished Auclair had contacted board members about her concerns before writing the letter to the editor - the board could have done something to help, he said. "The board members are very much open to parents coming directly to them," said Bouchard, who noted their home phone numbers are posted on the school district Web site. Gendron also said he would like to hear from any parent who has reason to believe drug activity is going on in Hudson schools. He isn't sure if there's a drug problem at Alvirne because parents aren't coming to the department with those concerns. "I would encourage parents, if they believe their child is using or purchasing drugs on school property, to contact us," Gendron said. "Any information would be kept strictly confidential." It's unclear when the drug dog issue will resurface in public, but it won't be at the school board meeting Monday. It makes sense to adopt a policy before the school year starts, but the draft isn't yet complete, Bell said. "I don't view this as being an emergency situation," he said. "This is an issue we're reviewing." - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake