Pubdate: Wed, 24 Oct 2007
Source: Journal-Inquirer (Manchester, CT)
Copyright: 2007 Journal-Inquirer
Contact:  http://www.journalinquirer.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/220
Author: Kristen J. Tsetsi
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)

ENFIELD BOARD APPROVES SCHOOL SCREENING, SEARCH POLICY

ENFIELD - The Board of Education on Tuesday unanimously  approved a 
policy regarding police screenings and  searches.

The policy authorizes school administrators to call the  Police 
Department "to assist it in conducting  screenings and/or searches of 
persons or personal  possessions on school property" in an effort to 
deter  "illegal activity."

The policy had been held for review because of concerns  about the 
language, and Vice Chairman Albert B.  Harrison described Tuesday's 
meeting as "probably the  liveliest one in the last four years."

In an Oct. 9 memo to the board, an organization called  the Parent 
Leadership Association criticized the  language used in the policy as 
vague, which inspired  efforts to clarify the policy.

For example, where the policy originally used the word  "illicit," it 
now uses "illegal" because Shannon  Roberto, a member of the Parent 
Leadership Association,  argued the word "illicit" introduces 
subjectivity that  "may open the door to discrimination."

Harrison said today that some association members are  still not 
happy with the policy as rewritten. He added  that he respects their 
opinion, and he respects that  they disagree with the policy, which 
is effective  immediately.

"I've had parents and students tell me they're in favor  of the 
policy," Superintendent John Gallacher said.

Both Harrison and Gallacher said that the policy does  not infringe 
on the personal privacy rights of students  and emphasize that school 
property is just that: school  property. Lockers do not belong to 
students; they are  used by students and belong to the school.

The students themselves will not be searched unless  there is 
reasonable cause, Gallacher said.

"If a reliable student came to the principal and said  another 
student had a bag of marijuana on them," the  student would be 
brought to the principal's office and  asked to empty his or her 
pockets, bookbag, or purse.

Should a problem ensue from there, a police officer  stationed at the 
school would be asked to assist, and  the next step would be to call 
in the police.

"The police are not going to be coming into school and  searching 
people," said Harrison, explaining that the  policy was developed 
mainly for the use of the canine  team in conducting screenings.

Searches using dogs would walk through hallways or  parking lots 
during class time. Only when reasonable  cause was established would 
a search ensue.

"We're hoping it's a deterrent," Gallacher said.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman