Girard City School District
Administrative Guidelines
 

7440B - METAL DETECTOR SEARCH PROCEDURES

The principal shall be responsible for the monitoring and enforcement of guidelines relative to metal detector electronic search procedures. The principal shall have the authority to request of the Superintendent metal detector searches; and electronic searches shall not be conducted in the absence of such request.

The purpose of the metal detector search is to discourage students from bringing weapons into the schools. Accordingly, metal detectors may be used at District schools, facilities, and buses and school-related functions of schools, on a random and periodic basis.

All students entering schools, facilities, and buses, and school-related functions of such schools are subject to search.

Metal detector searches will be conducted by staff using hand-held scanning devices, and monitored by the principal.

 A.Students shall not be informed in advance regarding the specific dates on which, or the locations where, metal detector searches will occur.
 B.When a metal detector is being used, students will be permitted to use only designated entrances to the school or school-related function. District staff may be stationed at other entrances, as necessary, to prevent students from opening those entrances to admit others into the building or school-related function.
 C.All students entering the school or school-related function are subject to search although those conducting the search and/or monitoring the search may choose to limit the search by any lawful random formula. For example, if the lines become too long, the search may be limited to every second or third person. Once a random formula is utilized, it shall be applied without deviation until it is ended by order of the principal. A random formula shall not be ended in order to search a particular student or person.
 D.Staff are prohibited from selecting a particular person to electronic search unless there is a reasonable suspicion.
 E.Prior to use in conducting a metal detector search pursuant to these guidelines, each search device to be used shall be examined by a person familiar with its operation to determine if it is in proper working order. A metal detector search device shall not be used if there is any question as to whether it is in proper working order.
 F.Each person operating a metal detector search device shall be trained in the proper use of the device and the detection of any malfunction in the operation of the instrument. Adjustments in the settings of the device shall only be made by the principal.
 G.After each individual search, staff will ask the person to remove all objects from his/her person and to place the objects and any bags, backpacks, briefcases, knapsacks, purses, or parcels on a table. With the exception of contraband in plain view, police officers may not inspect items in which a weapon could not be concealed, and may not examine written materials. The principal shall monitor each electronic search for compliance with these guidelines.
 H.When a student's bag or parcel activates the scanning device, the staff member is to request him/her to open the container in question so that the officer can look for weapons.
 I.If a student's body activates the device, the staff member will repeat the request to remove objects. A second hand-held scanning device scan will then be conducted and if the device is activated again, the staff member will escort the student to a private area where a more thorough search will be conducted in accord with AG 5771 on searches of a student's body.
 J.Prior to the private search, the principal or other administrator must ask the student again to remove all objects from his/her person, then the search will begin near the place where the device was activated. This is a pat-down search of outer clothing only, conducted by a person of the same gender, geared to locate the item that triggered the scanning device. The principal shall monitor this search for compliance with these guidelines.
 K.If the staff member feels an object during the pat-down, the student will be given a chance to remove it before the staff member does.
 L.The search is directed to a search for weapons; however, other contraband discovered in the course of a metal detector search or pat down may also be removed from any student and the student will be disciplined.
 M.All property removed from the student as a result of the above procedures that may be legitimately brought on school premises or to school functions will be returned to the student. All other property will not be returned to the student.
 N.Property removed from the student or the student's bags or parcels, possession of which is a violation of the Code of Conduct, school rules, Board policy and administrative guidelines, and/or the law, shall cause a student to be disciplined in accordance with the Code of Conduct and may subject the student to criminal prosecution and/or juvenile proceedings for violations of law.
 O.If student refuses to cooperate with the pat down search, the staff member is to notify the principal, administrator, or Board employee who is stationed nearby to monitor the search. Such students shall be subject to the Code of Conduct. Refusal shall also be grounds for immediate removal from school, facilities, and/or grounds and further discipline.
 P.Nothing in the procedures set forth above shall limit the authority of the Board and Board employees to remove other contraband from a student, and to otherwise search a student when there is reasonable suspicion to believe that a particular student is in possession of an article or thing, the possession of which constitutes inappropriate behavior under the Code of Conduct.
 Q.A copy of the Metal Detector Search Procedures shall be available to each person and staff member who will in any way be involved with the conducting and/or monitoring of searches.

Revised 3/13/07
Revised 10/09