Purpose

The Board acknowledges the need for safe storage of books, clothing, school materials and personal property and may provide lockers for storage purposes.

Authority

It shall be the policy of the Board that all lockers are and shall remain the property of the school district. As such, students shall have only a limited expectation of privacy in their lockers.[1]

No student may use a locker as a depository for a substance or object that is prohibited by law, Board policy or district rules, or constitutes a threat to the health, safety or welfare of the occupants of the school building or the building itself.

The Board reserves the right to authorize its employees to inspect a student's locker at any time, based on reasonable suspicion, for the purpose of determining whether the locker is being used improperly for the storage of contraband, a substance or object the possession of which is illegal, or any material that poses a threat to the health, welfare or safety of the school population.[2]

Delegation of Responsibility

The Board authorizes the administration to conduct random general searches of lockers when the district has a compelling interest in protecting and preserving the health, safety or welfare of the school population.

Students, parents/guardians and staff shall be notified at least annually, or more often if deemed appropriate by administration, concerning the contents of this policy and district procedures.[2]

The Superintendent or designee shall develop procedures to implement this policy.

The principal or designee shall be present whenever a student locker is inspected based on reasonable suspicion.

The principal shall open a student's locker for inspection on the request of a law enforcement officer only on presentation of a duly authorized search warrant or on the intelligent and voluntary consent of the student.[3]

The principal shall be responsible for promptly recording in writing each locker inspection; such record shall include the reason(s) for the search, persons present, objects found and their disposition.

The principal shall be responsible for the safekeeping and proper disposal of any substance, object or material found in a student's locker in violation of law, Board policy or school rules.

School officials are authorized to search a student's personal possessions or motor vehicle parked on school property when there is reasonable suspicion that the student is violating law, Board policy or school rules, or poses a threat to the health, safety or welfare of the school population.

Guidelines

Students shall assume responsibility for maintaining the security of their lockers.[2]

Prior to an individual locker search, the student shall be notified and be given an opportunity to be present. However, when school authorities have a reasonable suspicion that a locker contains materials which pose a threat to the health, welfare or safety of the school population, student lockers may be searched without prior warning.

Illegal and prohibited materials seized during a student search may be used as evidence against the student in a school disciplinary proceeding.[2]

Searches conducted by the administration may include but not be limited to utilization of certified drug dogs, metal detection units, or any device used to protect the health, safety and welfare of the school population.