CAUTION NEEDED IN COLOMA

Privacy rights vs. law and order: It's an issue that is bound to grow in
importance and visibility as society and technology continue changing at a
rapid pace.

This somewhat abstract issue has become tangible in Coloma, where a new
districtwide school policy has rekindled the debate over students' rights
vs. a district's understandable desire to keep its schools free of trouble.

The policy, approved this week by the school board, gives school officials
broad leeway to search around student vehicles when they are parked on
school grounds. If drugs or some other banned item is suspected, students
will be asked to open the vehicle for further search. Should students
object, contacting their parents and then the authorities would be the next
steps.

Superintendent David DeFields said the policy was prompted by a desire to
extend to the parking lot what the district already does inside its school
buildings.

Coloma (along with many other schools nationwide) has taken its cue from
the U.S. Supreme Court, which in 1985 ruled that school officials can apply
a "reasonable cause" standard when searching for illegal drugs, weapons or
other contraband that may be concealed on a student's person, or in a
locker or automobile. The reasonable cause standard is lower than in law
enforcement.

Still, Coloma and other districts considering similar policies must be
careful not to trample of what limited rights students have on school
grounds. A policy that fails to respect basic student rights and the
presumption of innocence would promote an environment of distrust and
perhaps even fear at school, which above all should remain a place
conducive to learning and expression. The Coloma policy seems to be
fashioned out of good intentions, but how it is carried out will be key.

We'd hate to see misunderstandings and pranks blown out of proportion, to
the extent that students are presumed guilty of crimes or policy offenses
when, in fact, a reasonable explanation may be forthcoming.

For example, what if during a routine parking lot patrol a student's car is
found to have several empty beer cans rolling around on the back
floorboard? Is this a red flag and a potential indicator that a student has
been drinking in the parking lot? Sure. But there is another possibility.
Perhaps, on the way to the store to return the cans, the student's parent
or guardian carelessly allowed some cans to get loose. DeFields said the
district will handle each incident case by case, with a keen eye toward
fairness.

Other "contraband" - perhaps something as innocuous as a kitchen knife -
might also innocently find its way into a student's vehicle. Coloma school
board members and administrators must make sure to maintain discretion in
district policies when determining whether a threat to others truly exists.
Too often in recent years school officials across the nation, acting in the
name of safety, have overreacted under the cover of poorly conceived "zero
tolerance" policies.

Ultimately we agree with Coloma officials that providing a safe, drug- free
environment is vital. The trick is to meet this goal while respecting
student rights, and without fostering an environment where suspicion and
distrust detract from the educational environment.