DOG SEARCH FOR DRUGS RELATIVELY CLEAN AT DHS

60% to 70% of student lockers searched

A team of drug-sniffing dogs that roamed the halls of Durango High
School on Thursday found a small stash of marijuana, several knives
and some firecrackers, DHS Principal Greg Spradling said.

But the amount of illicit contraband found was less than in past
searches, the principal said.

The dogs also found prescription drugs that students are supposed to
turn over to a school nurse during the school day, he said.

Sixty percent to 70 percent of the lockers were searched, along with
cars in the parking lot.

Spradling said fewer drugs at school, weaknesses in the search or
just plain luck could explain the relatively clean search.

Durango School District 9-R pays $2,400 to Interquest Detection
Canines, a national company, to conduct three searches at DHS and
each middle school, Spradling said.

A search in May conducted by another company raised the ire of
parents because the building was locked down during the search,
creating student fears of a shooting. Spradling said there was no
lockdown on Thursday.

Dogs also searched Miller Middle School, Principal Bruce Hankins
said. He declined further comment.

Escalante Middle School Principal Amy Kendziorski did not return
phone messages left Friday.