FALMOUTH HIGH OKS DOGS FOR SNIFFING DRUGS

Informational meetings will inform parents, students on search procedures.

FALMOUTH - School administrators in Falmouth have one more weapon in the
war on drugs today. Last night a policy to use drug detecting dogs in the
Falmouth High School was approved by a School Committee vote of 5-2.

But before a Barnstable County Sheriff's Department K-9 handler and trained
drug-sniffing dog are allowed into the building or parking lot of the
school, several informational meetings will be held to advise students,
parents and teachers of what to expect.

High school principal Paul Cali said he had concerns about bringing in the
dogs trained to detect marijuana, cocaine products, and heroin, but all
have been answered. He is confident students rights will not be violated,
and the school administration will remain in control of the search and the
consequences.

"I was the guy who needed to be sold the most in the beginning," Cali said.

According to the policy, only school administrators will be advised of the
random searches of the building and parking lot which will be conducted
while students are in class. The administrators will determine where the
searches will take place and no student will be searched by the dogs.

If the dog makes a "hit" on a locker or car, it will be marked so school
administrators can conduct a search of the area in the presence of the
student connected with the car or locker. If evidence is collected, school
administrators will determine the course of action.

"The school is using the dog and trainer to assist in a process that is
under school control," said Superintendent Peter Clark who consulted with
law enforcement professionals and school administrators in other towns.

Presently Mashpee, Sandwich and the Upper Cape Regional Technical School
systems have a policy to allow the dogs into the schools to enforce a zero
tolerance policy on drugs.

"The policy before us now is solid under the constitution," said School
Committee member Thomas Kirkman who is also an assistant to the Barnstable
County District Attorney's Office.

School Committee member Peter Kerwin led the opposition to the policy. He
argued passionately that regardless of court rulings favoring the use of
drug sniffing dogs in schools, the law in this democracy is "fluid." He
believes bringing in the dogs is an invasion of privacy and that basic
constitutional rights of the students are being overlooked.

Kerwin moved to table the discussion until there was an opportunity for a
public forum where students could voice their opinions.

"As the primary educational institution in our community, we are not
educating the kids of their constitutional rights," he said.

But vice chairman Samuel Patterson argued that the school assumes parental
responsibility of the students while they are in school and must protect
them from exposure to drugs or even the impression drugs are commonplace.

"We need to dispel the sense that students have that everyone is using
drugs," said Patterson, who believes the occasional presence of the dogs
will relieve peer pressure.

"It gives a kid a very valid argument to say 'no, I don't want to do drugs,
I could be caught by the dogs'," said Falmouth Police Sgt. Roman Mederios,
who was glad the board approved the searches which he believes will be a
strong drug deterrent.

Now that the policy has been approved, Cali said sweeps can be initiated
before the end of this school year.