Policy 515-R Search of Student Lockers, Desks, Personal Possessions and Student’s Person Regulations

A.  “Contraband” means any unauthorized item possession of which is prohibited by school district policy and/or law. It includes but is not limited to weapons and “lookalikes,” alcoholic beverages, controlled substances and “look-alikes,” overdue books and other materials belonging to the school district, and stolen property.

B. “Personal possessions” includes but is not limited to purses, backpacks, book-bags, packages, clothing and electronic devices and electronic files.

C. “Reasonable suspicion” means that a school official has grounds to believe that the search will result in evidence of a violation of school district policy, rules, and/or law. Reasonable suspicion may be based on a school official’s personal observation, a report from a student, parent or staff member, a student’s suspicious behavior, a student’s age and past history or record of conduct both in and out of the school context, or other reliable sources of information.

 D. “Reasonable scope” means that the scope and/or intrusiveness of the search is reasonably related to the objectives of the search. Factors to consider in determining what is reasonable include the seriousness of the suspected infraction, the reliability of the information, the necessity of acting without delay, the existence of exigent circumstances necessitating an immediate search and further investigation (e.g. to prevent violence, serious and immediate risk of harm or destruction of evidence), and the age of the student.
 

A. School officials may inspect the interiors of lockers and desks for any reason at any time, without notice, without student consent, and without a search warrant.

B. School officials may inspect the personal possessions of a student and/or a student’s person based on a reasonable suspicion that the search will uncover a violation of law or school rules. A search of personal possessions of a student and/or a student’s person will be reasonable in its scope and intrusiveness.

C. A search of a person shall be conducted in private by a school official of the same gender. A second school official of the same gender shall be present as an observer during the search of a person whenever feasible. 

D. A school official conducting any other search may determine when it is appropriate to have a second official present as an observer.

E. A copy of this policy will be printed in the student handbook or disseminated in any other way which school officials deem appropriate. The school district shall provide a copy of this policy to a student when the student is given use of a locker.

School administration may establish reasonable directives and guidelines which address specific needs of the school district, such as use of tape in lockers, standards of cleanliness and care, posting of pin-ups and posters.

If a search yields contraband, school officials will seize the item and, where appropriate, turn it over to legal officials for ultimate disposition.

A student found to have violated this policy and/or the directives and guidelines shall be subject to discipline in accordance with the school district’s Student Discipline Policy, which may include suspension, exclusion, or expulsion, and the student may, when appropriate, be referred to legal officials.

• Adopted: August 16, 2004
• Amended: December 12, 2005
• Amended: March 9, 2015
• Amended: January 13, 2020
• Last Reviewed: January 13, 2020

• Policy 515 - Search of Student Lockers, Desks, Personal Possessions, Student's Person