SCHOOLS UNDER RANDOM DRUG SEARCH POLICIES

Jackson-Madison County Schools superintendent authorizes new policy

Police soon will begin using drug dogs for random searches of
Jackson-Madison County Schools buses and buildings that serve fifth-
through 12-grade students.

Superintendent Nancy Zambito authorized the new policy this week.
Police began conducting random searches for drugs in the parking
lots of school properties earlier this school year, though nothing
has been found so far, to Zambito's knowledge.

"What prompted this decision was there was concern among the
principals, and I received several calls from parents whose children
have seen drugs on the school buses," Zambito said Friday. "We will
start the searches before the school year is over," she added.
"We're very lucky to have the wonderful relationship that we have
with our law enforcement agencies."

Zambito emphasized that students will in no way have contact with the dogs.

For example, when a bus is searched, it will happen when the bus
arrives at school. Before the search, students will be told to leave
their backpacks, purses, instrument cases and all other carry-on
items on the bus. The students will be allowed to retrieve their
belongings after the dogs have been removed from the bus and are at
least 100 feet away from it, according to a letter Zambito posted on
the school system's Web site Thursday to inform parents and
guardians of students.

Buses will be searched according to a random schedule developed by
law enforcement, according to Zambito's letter. Every bus serving
students in fifth through 12th grade will be searched at least one
time during the school year.

School buildings and buses also will be searched at the request of principals.

Police won't search buses and schools that serve kindergarten
through fourth-grade students.

Anthony Hardeman, a student at Liberty Technology Magnet High
School, said he hasn't seen any drug paraphernalia on the bus he
rides to school. But he's all right with the searches.

"I don't mind because I don't have anything to hide," Hardeman said.
"I think it's a good idea."

Zambito hopes word of random searches will deter students from
bringing drugs to school.