Policy Manual

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Policy JIH

The South Portland Board of Education seeks to maintain a safe and orderly environment  in the schools. School administrators are authorized to question and/or search students in  accordance with this policy and accompanying administrative procedures. 

Students may not bring, possess, or store at school any items or substances, which are  prohibited by law, Board policies and/or school rules, or which interfere with the  operations, discipline or general welfare of the school. Students, their personal property,  to include personal electronic devices, and their vehicles may be searched with reasonable suspicion that they possess any items or substances which are prohibited by law, Board of Education policies and/or school rules, or which interfere with the operations, discipline or general welfare of the school.

When special circumstances exist, including but not limited to a suspected ongoing  violation of the Board’s drug/alcohol or weapons policies, or when a potential threat to  safety is identified, school administrators may search groups of students or the entire  student body without individualized suspicion.

Student use of all school storage facilities, including but not limited to lockers, desks, and  parking lots is a privilege granted by the school. All storage facilities are school property  and remain under the control, custody and supervision of the school. Students have no  expectation of privacy in school storage facilities or for any items placed in such storage  facilities. School administrators have the authority to inspect and search storage facilities  and their contents on a random basis, with or without reasonable suspicion, and without  notice or consent.

The Superintendent may authorize the use of exploratory canine patrols to assist in the  detection of drugs, weapons, or other illicit substances. Canine patrols may be utilized on  a random basis, with or without reasonable suspicion, and without notice or consent, to  scan any school storage facilities and any personal property, including backpacks, that is  brought onto school property.

If a search produces evidence that a student has violated or is violating the law, Board  policies and/or school rules, such evidence may be seized and impounded by the school  administrators and appropriate law enforcement authorities as required by law or as  deemed appropriate by the Superintendent.

A student who refuses to comply with a search directive may be subject to disciplinary  action, including the disciplinary consequences for the suspected violation.

School, staff, students, and parents shall be informed of this policy on an annual basis  through handbooks and/or other means selected by the school administrators

The Superintendent is authorized to develop and implement, with input from legal  counsel, administrative staff and others as appropriate, any administrative procedures  necessary to carry out this policy. Such administrative procedures shall be subject to Board approval. 

Cross Reference: JIH-R – Questioning and Searches of Students, Administrative Procedure  

JICH – Substance Abuse Policy 

JICIA – Weapons, Violence and School Safety 

JK – Student Discipline 

JICJ – Student Use of Electronic Devices 

INJDB - Student Computer and Internet Use Rules 

Adopted: March 8, 1976 

Revised: August 14, 2000 

Revised: January 11, 2010 

Revised: August 28, 2017 

Board Reviewed: September 11, 2017 

*Please excuse any formatting errors.