502.8 - Search and Seizure
502.8 - Search and SeizureSchool district property is held in public trust by the board. School district authorities may, without a search warrant, search students or protected student areas based on a reasonable and articulable suspicion that a school district policy, rule, regulation or law has been violated. The search shall be in a manner reasonable in scope to maintain order and discipline in the schools, promote the educational environment, and protect the safety and welfare of students, employees and visitors to the school district facilities. The furnishing of a locker, desk or other facility or space owned by the school and provided as a courtesy to a student, even if the student provides the lock for it, shall not create a protected student area and shall not give rise to an expectation of privacy with respect the locker, desk, or other facility.
School authorities may seize any illegal, unauthorized or contraband materials discovered in the search. Items of contraband may include, but are not limited to, nonprescription controlled substances, marijuana, cocaine, amphetamines, barbiturates, apparatus used for controlled substances, alcoholic beverages, tobacco/nicotine, weapons, explosives, poisons and stolen property. Such items are not to be possessed by a student while they are on school district property or on property within the jurisdiction of the school district; while on school owned and/or operated school or chartered buses; while attending or engaged in school activities; and while away from school grounds if misconduct will directly affect the good order, efficient management and welfare of the school district. Possession of such items will be grounds for disciplinary action including suspension or expulsion and may be reported to local law enforcement officials. The board believes that illegal, unauthorized or contraband materials may cause material and substantial disruption to the school environment or presents a threat to the health and safety of students, employees, or visitors on the school district premises or property within the jurisdiction of the school district.
The Superintendent of Schools may authorize, as part of an overall effort to maintain safe schools, the periodic use of narcotic detection dogs to alert staff to the presence of substances prohibited by law or Board policy.
All school property such as lockers, classrooms, parking areas and storage areas may be searched.
- Dogs shall not be used in rooms occupied by persons except for demonstration purposes with the handler present.
- When used for demonstration purposes, the dog may not sniff the person or any individual.
- The dogs may sniff the air around lockers, desks, or vehicles on District property or at District-sponsored events as long as they are not allowed to sniff within close proximity of any student’s person.
- Individual(s) shall not be subjected to a search by dogs. To avoid the potential of allergic reactions, dogs shall be kept away from the students.
Actual times or dates of planned searches need not be released in advance. Only the dog’s official handler will determine what constitutes an alert by the dog. If a dog alerts on a locker and a search is subsequently conducted by school officials, the search will be conducted in the presence of the student(s) whose locker(s) is/are being searched or, in the absence of the student(s), the search shall be conducted in the presence of at least one other person. If a dog alerts on a locked vehicle, the student who brought it onto District property shall be asked to unlock it for a search conducted per procedure outlined in Board of Education Policy. An effort shall be made to protect the student’s privacy to the greatest degree possible.
Law enforcement agencies will be contacted to investigate, handle and confiscate any illegal substances or materials found during the school’s search and students with such substances or materials may be subject to criminal prosecution in addition to any school disciplinary action.
It shall be the responsibility of the superintendent, in conjunction with the principals, to develop administrative regulations regarding this policy.
Legal Reference: U.S. Const. amend. IV.
New Jersey v. T.L.O., 469 U.S. 325 (1985).
Cason v. Cook, 810 F.2d 188 (8th Cir. 1987), cert. den., 482 U.S. 930 (1987).
Iowa Code ch. 808A
281 I.A.C. 12.3(6).
Cross Reference: 905.2 Nicotine/Tobacco-Free Environment
Adopted: 04/20/1998
Reviewed: 03/11/2024
Revised:
502.8E1 - Search and Seizure Checklist
502.8E1 - Search and Seizure ChecklistI. What factors caused you to have a reasonable and articulable suspicion that the search of this student or the student's effects or automobile would turn up evidence that the student has violated or is violating the law, school policy, rules or regulations affecting school order?
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Eyewitness account. |
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What was seen: |
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Information from a reliable source. |
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From whom: |
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Time received: |
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How information was received: |
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Who received the information: |
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Describe information: |
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Suspicious behavior? Explain. |
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Time of search: |
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Location of search: |
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Student told purpose of search: |
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Consent of student requested: |
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Was the search you conducted reasonable in terms of scope and intrusiveness? |
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What were you searching for: |
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Where did you search? |
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Sex of the student: |
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Age of the student: |
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Exigency of the situation: |
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What type of search was being conducted: |
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Who conducted the search: |
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Position: |
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Witness(s): |
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Explanation of Search. |
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Describe the time and location of the search: |
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Describe exactly what was searched: |
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What did the search yield: |
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What was seized: |
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Were any materials turned over to law enforcement officials? |
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Were parents notified of the search including the reason for it and the scope: |
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Adopted: 04/20/1998
Reviewed: 03/11/2024
Revised: 03/11/2024
502.8R1-Search & Seizure Regulation
502.8R1-Search & Seizure RegulationCode No. 502.8R1
SEARCH AND SEIZURE REGULATION
I. Searches, in general.
- Reasonable and Articulable Suspicion: A search of a student will be justified when there are reasonable grounds for the suspicion that the search will turn up evidence that the student has violated or is violating the law or school district policy, rules, or regulations affecting school order.
Reasonable suspicion may be formed by considering factors such as the following:
- eyewitness observations by employees;
- information received from reliable sources;
- suspicious behavior by the student; or,
- the student's past history and school record. although this factor alone is not sufficient to provide the basis for reasonable suspicion.
- Reasonable Scope: A search will be permissible in its scope or intrusiveness when the measures adopted are reasonably related to the objectives of the search. Reasonableness of scope or intrusiveness may be determined based on factors such as the following:
- the age of the student;
- the sex of the student;
- the nature of the infraction; and
- the emergency requiring the search without delay.
II. Types of Searches
- Personal Searches
- A student's person and/or personal effects (e.g., purse, backpack, etc.) may be searched when a school official has reasonable suspicion to believe the student is in possession of illegal or contraband items or has violated school district policies, rules, regulations or the law affecting school order.
- Personally intrusive searches will require more compelling circumstances to be considered reasonable.
- Pat-Down Search: If a pat-down search or a search of a student's garments (such as jackets, socks, pockets, etc.) is conducted, it will be conducted in private by a school official of the same sex as the student and with another adult witness of the same sex present, when feasible.
- A more intrusive search, short of a strip search, of the student's person, handbags, book bags, etc., is permissible in emergency situations when the health and safety of students, employees, or visitors are threatened. Such a search may only be conducted in private by a school official of the same sex as the student, with an adult of the same sex present unless the health or safety of students will be endangered by the delay which may be caused by following these procedures.
- Pat-Down Search: If a pat-down search or a search of a student's garments (such as jackets, socks, pockets, etc.) is conducted, it will be conducted in private by a school official of the same sex as the student and with another adult witness of the same sex present, when feasible.
- Locker and Desk Inspections
Although school lockers and desks are temporarily assigned to individual students, they remain the property of the school district at all times. The school district has a reasonable and valid interest in insuring the lockers and desks are properly maintained. For this reason, lockers and desks are subject to unannounced inspections and students have no legitimate expectations of privacy in the locker or desk. Periodic inspections of all or a random selection of lockers or desks may be conducted by school officials in the presence of the student or another individual. Any contraband discovered during such searches will be confiscated by school officials and may be turned over to law enforcement officials.
The contents of a student's locker or desk (coat, backpack, purse, etc.) may be searched when a school official has reasonable and articulable suspicion that the contents contains illegal or contraband items or evidence of a violation of law or school policy or rule. Such searches should be conducted in the presence of another adult witness when feasible.
- Automobile Searches
Students are permitted to park on school premises as a matter of privilege, not of right. The school retains authority to conduct routine patrols of the student parking lots. The interior of a student's automobile on the school premises may be searched if the school official has reasonable and articulable suspicion to believe that illegal, unauthorized or contraband items are contained inside.
Legal References: Iowa Code § 808A; 281 I.A.C. 12.3; 469 U.S. 325
Cason v. Cook 810 F.2d 188 (8th Cir. 1987), cert. den., 482 U.S. 930 (1987).
New Jersey v. T.L.O. 469 U.S. 325 (1985)
Cross References 905.02 Nicotine/Tobacco-Free Environment
Adopted: 04/20/1998
Reviewed: 03/11/2024
Revised: 03/11/2024