Nothing in this procedure shall limit the authority of school officials to search a student in accordance with policy 7:140, Search and Seizure. All property removed as a result of this procedure that may be legitimately brought onto District property will be returned to the individual.  Property removed from a student, possession of which violates Board policy, shall be confiscated and the student disciplined in accordance with Board policy.

Students who fail to cooperate with school personnel performing their duties may be subject to discipline for insubordination and/or removal from school property.

Metal Detector Checks of All/Groups of Students (Random Searches)

1.       The Superintendent or designee may decide to conduct a metal detector check on all students entering a school, or he or she may select a group of students to be checked at random on a neutral, nondiscriminatory basis. The group selected for a random check may be a classroom(s), a bus(ses), or any other group of students determined by the Superintendent or designee in accordance with these procedures.

2.       The participating administrator, security personnel, or law enforcement officer will explain the scanning process to students, emphasizing that the checks are intended to maintain safe schools. 

3.       An administrator, security personnel, or law enforcement officer will direct students with their personal effects into a designated area to proceed with the metal detector check. An administrator, security personnel, or law enforcement officer will closely observe students to make sure no objects are removed from pockets or personal effects. 

4.       The administrator, security personnel, or law enforcement officer will ask the student to remove all metal-containing objects from his or her clothing and personal effects. The administrator, security personnel, or officer will then direct the student to undergo the metal detection. If the student refuses to cooperate, the supervisor shall not permit the student to enter the school building. 

5.       If the metal detector alerts during the scanning of the student's effects, the administrator, security personnel, or law enforcement officer will ask the student to open the bag, purse, etc. and the person conducting the search will proceed to look for weapons. 
If the metal detector alerts during the scanning of the student's person, the student will be given a second opportunity to remove any metal­ containing object from his or her person. A second scan will be conducted and if the metal detector alerts again, but no administrator is present, the student will be held until an administrator is present. 
The student will be interviewed to determine the source of the alert and given the opportunity to remove any metal-containing objects a third time. If the metal detector alerts again, the administrator shall contact the student’s parent or guardian and will not be permitted to enter the school building until the administrator has confirmed that the student is not in possession of a weapon.
 
Metal Detector Checks of An Individual Student (Reasonable Suspicion)
Except as described above, before conducting a metal detector check of an individual student, the administrator, security personnel, or officer must have individualized reasonable suspicion that the student is in possession of an illegal or unauthorized metal-containing object or weapon. The relevant provisions of the above procedure shall be followed for the individual student once identified for a check based on reasonable suspicion.

When there is reasonable suspicion a student is in possession of a weapon and the search has not produced the item, a School Resource Office or other law enforcement personnel may be asked to conduct a search.  

Students who do not cooperate with this process are subject to school disciplinary actions.  

Pat-Down Search

When feasible, a pat-down search should be conducted: (1) outside the view of others, including students; (2) in the presence of a school administrator or adult witness; and (3) by a certificated employee or liaison police officer of the same sex as the student.

A pat-down search conducted by school personnel shall be limited to clothing for the purpose of discovering items that may have activated the metal detecting device. If school personnel conducting a pat-down search feel an object that may have activated the metal detecting device or may be other prohibited contraband, the individual will be asked to remove it.

Immediately following a search, a written report shall be made by the school authority who conducted the pat-down search, and given to the Superintendent.

UPDATED:    June 7, 2022
Revised:         May 15, 2023