Intent of proposal is to "send a message to students"
By John Tredrea
A measure that would give school officials the right to search students’ cars and lockers without advance notice and without "reasonable suspicion" of illegal activity was introduced by the school board at its Monday agenda session.
The intent of the proposed policy amendment is to provide a deterrent to the possibility of students keeping contraband in their cars, district spokeswoman JoAnn Meyer said Tuesday.
"It sends a message to the students," she said.
An adoption vote on the amendment is expected at Monday’s regular 7:30 p.m. meeting at 425 S. Main St., Pennington.
The proposal states that students and their parents or guardians would be informed in writing of the new policy when parking permits are issued.
The proposed amendment would enact similar changes in regard to student lockers. The amendment would allow student lockers to be searched by school officials at anytime, including a time at which there is no reasonable suspicion that there is anything illegal in the locker.
Ms. Meyer said the intent is the deterrent effect expected to result from student knowledge that any locker could be searched at any time.
The proposed amendment states in part: "As a condition of accepting and utilizing a locker, each student acknowledges the absence of any expectation of personal privacy of the locker or its contents."