News (Media Awareness Project) - US CA: Board Urges Use Of Drug Dogs |
| Title: | US CA: Board Urges Use Of Drug Dogs |
| Published On: | 1999-08-13 |
| Source: | Tribune, The (CA) |
| Fetched On: | 2008-09-05 23:48:42 |
BOARD URGES USE OF DRUG DOGS
The Templeton School Board continued its push for drug-free campuses
Thursday with vocal support of a plan to bring drug-sniffing dogs to its
campuses.
The board did not vote on the matter, but supported the idea in a consensus,
asking district Superintendent Curt DuBost to formulate a specific plan and
contract with a company to provide drug- and weapon-sniffing dogs for random
visits.
DuBost said he will bring a formal proposal back to the board, either at its
next August meeting or in early September. DuBost brought the idea to the
board for discussion Thursday after examining state and federal grants that
would pay for the cost of the dogs, up to $1,800.
"This is something that has been tested before at other schools and its
fairly routine," DuBost told the board Thursday.
He called the concept a proactive step toward preventing students from
getting into trouble.
"I think its a good idea, and one we should try," he said.
Board member David LaRue agreed, connecting the idea of drug- and
weapon-sniffing dogs to a new mandatory drug-testing policy for all the
districts student athletes, which the board approved last month.
"I think this falls into line with what were trying to achieve," LaRue
said. "Some people were concerned that we were just singling out athletes.
This gives us a chance to include everyone."
Only about 20 people were present at the meeting Thursday and no one from
the public spoke out on the drug dog idea.
DuBost pointed to the success of a similar program at Lucia Mar School
District, which has used drug dogs at Arroyo Grande High School and three
middle school sites for several years.
Lucia Mar had dogs on its campuses 31 times last year and, at a cost of
about $400 for a full-day visit, racked up a bill of about $12,000.
The searches resulted in only one expulsion, in which an Arroyo Grande High
School student was expelled after a dog smelled a small canister of pot.
Lucia Mar contracts the Modesto-based Interquest Detection Canine company to
provide dogs for the searches. A new contract approved by that districts
board in April lists the companys one-day search costs at $420.
DuBost presented his board with a sample contract from Interquest for nine
half-day visits at $200 apiece, but stressed that there are other similar
companies and said he would study their prices before making a formal proposal.
DuBost also said several other superintendents in the county have expressed
interest in pursuing the drug dog concept and that districts might work
together to share search days or take other measures to knock the costs down.
Those details will be presented to the Templeton School Board within the
next month or so.
The Templeton School Board continued its push for drug-free campuses
Thursday with vocal support of a plan to bring drug-sniffing dogs to its
campuses.
The board did not vote on the matter, but supported the idea in a consensus,
asking district Superintendent Curt DuBost to formulate a specific plan and
contract with a company to provide drug- and weapon-sniffing dogs for random
visits.
DuBost said he will bring a formal proposal back to the board, either at its
next August meeting or in early September. DuBost brought the idea to the
board for discussion Thursday after examining state and federal grants that
would pay for the cost of the dogs, up to $1,800.
"This is something that has been tested before at other schools and its
fairly routine," DuBost told the board Thursday.
He called the concept a proactive step toward preventing students from
getting into trouble.
"I think its a good idea, and one we should try," he said.
Board member David LaRue agreed, connecting the idea of drug- and
weapon-sniffing dogs to a new mandatory drug-testing policy for all the
districts student athletes, which the board approved last month.
"I think this falls into line with what were trying to achieve," LaRue
said. "Some people were concerned that we were just singling out athletes.
This gives us a chance to include everyone."
Only about 20 people were present at the meeting Thursday and no one from
the public spoke out on the drug dog idea.
DuBost pointed to the success of a similar program at Lucia Mar School
District, which has used drug dogs at Arroyo Grande High School and three
middle school sites for several years.
Lucia Mar had dogs on its campuses 31 times last year and, at a cost of
about $400 for a full-day visit, racked up a bill of about $12,000.
The searches resulted in only one expulsion, in which an Arroyo Grande High
School student was expelled after a dog smelled a small canister of pot.
Lucia Mar contracts the Modesto-based Interquest Detection Canine company to
provide dogs for the searches. A new contract approved by that districts
board in April lists the companys one-day search costs at $420.
DuBost presented his board with a sample contract from Interquest for nine
half-day visits at $200 apiece, but stressed that there are other similar
companies and said he would study their prices before making a formal proposal.
DuBost also said several other superintendents in the county have expressed
interest in pursuing the drug dog concept and that districts might work
together to share search days or take other measures to knock the costs down.
Those details will be presented to the Templeton School Board within the
next month or so.
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