FILE: JCABA
GENERAL GUIDELINES AND PROCEDURE FOR THE USE
OF METAL DETECTORS OR MAGNETOMETERS IN SCHOOLS
PURPOSE:
The stated purpose of the search pursuant to these guidelines is to deter the bringing of weapons onto school grounds, and to thereby reduce the potential for violent incidence.
GENERAL GUIDELINES AND PROCEDURES:
These guidelines are designed to balance the need to have a secure and safe school campus against the rights of individual students. Administrators shall be trained on the use of metal detectors and other techniques for weapon searches consistent with Board policy.
Students shall be put on notice that they will be searched at various hours of the school day to avoid predictability.
The parents or guardian of every student shall be notified that random searches shall be conducted. This notice shall be done in a way to reasonably ensure that the parents have received the notice.
The parents shall also be notified when a student has been personally searched.
PROCEDURES:
Administrators and teachers will operate the walk through metal detector or magnetometer.
All students entering the school are subject to the search, although the teachers or administrators could choose to limit the search by a predetermined random formula:
EXAMPLE: If the lines become too long the administrators or teachers may decide to search every second, third or fourth student. The teachers and administrators are prohibited, however, from selecting a particular student to search unless there was a reasonable articulable suspicion to believe that the student is in possession of a weapon and/or dangerous instrumentality.
Administrators may decide to conduct the search as students enter the cafeteria, or when leaving school, or select an entire class to search upon entering and/or upon leaving classroom.
The teachers or administrators who conduct the search shall explain to the students the nature of the metal detector or magnetometer.
The administrator or teacher will ask the student to place any bags or parcels on the table and remove all metal objects from his/her person along with any metal objects from any bags, parcels, or other containers being carried. Once the above request has been made, the student will be asked to walk through the magnetometer.
If the detector activates on the person, the student will be asked to step out of line and remove all metal objects from his/her person. If the hand held scanning devise again activates, the teacher or administrator will ask the student once again to produce the signal triggering metal object.
If the student refuses to produce the metal object, then a reasonable articulable suspicion exists and the individual will be personally searched ("pat down") by an administrator of the same sex. At least one witness, also of the same sex as the student, shall be present throughout the search.
Any illegal objects (i.e., firearms, knives, or other implements which can be used as weapons) found during the search shall be retained by the central office staff and conveyed to an appropriate law enforcement official.
If the metal detector activates on any bags, parcels, or other containers carried by the student, a request to remove any remaining metal objects from said container shall be made. If the student refuses, and the hand held scanning device activates again, then a reasonable articulable suspicion exists and the school official may conduct a search of the container in question. Should any illegal objects be found, paragraph #8 controls.
Ref: La. Rev. Stat. Ann. Stat. Ann. ยงยง17:416, 17:416.3
State v. Stein, 203 Kan. 638 456 P.2d (1969)
Board minutes, 6-15-94
West Baton Rouge Parish School Board