MJUSD
DIVISION 5000
STUDENTS
ADMINISTRATIVE REGULATION
SEARCH AND SEIZURE
Use of Contraband Detection Dogs
Contraband detection dogs shall not be used in classrooms or other District facilities when the rooms are occupied, except for demonstration purposes with the handler present. When used for demonstration purposes, the dog shall be separated from the students and not allowed to sniff any individual.
Prior to conducting an inspection, students shall be asked to leave the room that will be subject to the canine sniff. No student shall be forced to leave personal items behind for inspection, unless school officials have reasonable suspicion to search the item.
Only the dog's official handler shall determine what constitutes an alert by the dog. If the dog alerts on a particular item or place, the student having the use of that item or place, or responsibility for it, shall be called to witness the inspection. If a dog alerts on a locked vehicle, the student who brought the vehicle onto District property shall be asked to unlock it for inspection.
Notifications
At the beginning of each school year and upon enrollment, the Superintendent or designee shall inform students and parents/guardians about the District's policies and procedures for searches, including notice regarding:
- the possibility of random searches of students, their belongings, their vehicles parked on District property, and District properties under a student's control, including lockers or desks; and
- the District's contraband dog detection program.
In addition, the Superintendent or designee shall ensure that signs are posted at all schools at which metal detectors are to be used to explain that anyone may be scanned by metal detector for guns, knives, or other illegal weapons when on campus or attending athletic or extracurricular events.