FGCA-AP: Searches on School Property

The District retains ownership and control of all lockers and desks.  Access to all lockers and desks is a legal right of school officials whose responsibility it is to protect the health, safety, and welfare of all students enrolled.  Students shall have no reasonable expectation of privacy when using lockers and desks. Student shall be given advanced notice of this policy through student handbooks or another form of notification.

Lockers and desks may be subject to suspicionless searches, inspections for purposes such as routine maintenance, or searches where there is suspicion that locker(s) contains objects/substances that are illegal, violate school policy, or may be detrimental to the health, safety, or welfare of district students.

Trained dogs may be used to smell the outside of students’ lockers and vehicles in District parking lots.  If the dog detects the possibility of objects/substances that are illegal or violate school policy, the principal or designee shall search the locker or vehicle in accordance with the search procedure below.

Search Procedure

When a locker, desk or vehicle is subject to a search, the principal or designee should be accompanied by at least one other school staff member or law enforcement officer.

Students’ personal items stored in lockers, desks and vehicles such as, but not limited to, book bags, pencil boxes, purses, and coats shall not be searched unless there exists reasonable suspicion that they contain an object(s) or substance(s) in violation of school rules/policy, the law, or which may be detrimental to the health, safety, or welfare of enrolled students.

In the event a law enforcement officer is to conduct a search of a student's locker or vehicle, probable cause is necessary unless the search is school-initiated and/or would pose a safety threat if conducted by school staff.

Illegal substances found in lockers will be turned over to proper authorities.  Consequences at the school and/or legal level will be determined on a case-by-case basis.

Adopted: 02/28/2017
Reviewed:
Revised: