SCHOOL PLANS TO USE DRUG DOGS

The School Board here plans to use drug-sniffing dogs to check
parking lots around school buildings.

"We're looking at this as preventative," said Ron Gruwell, assistant
superintendent of secondary education.

The School Board on Monday unanimously approved putting the dogs to
work in all parking areas surrounding the schools, whether district
owned or not, and including side streets.

The School Board was told by its attorney that the use of the dogs is
not considered an illegal search.

"It's what you do after a dog would hit on a car that could be
problematic," Gruwell said.

If there's a "hit" on a vehicle that does not belong to a student or
staff member, police would be notified to handle the situation.

The dogs will be used on a trial basis until June, when the board
will determine if they want to use them permanently.

Drug dogs have been used to search lockers at the high school for
about 10 years.