POLICE DOG SEARCHES AN OPTION IN SCHOOLS

Zero-tolerance drug rules in Surrey schools may be getting some teeth.

After months of review and revision, a draft Safe and Caring Schools policy,
which includes regulations regarding locker searches and the possible use of
police dogs, was presented to trustees Thursday.

The concept of using random sweeps by drug-sniffing dogs from a private
company to ferret out students possessing or dealing drugs was floated more
than a year and a half ago and was met with reaction ranging from outright
support to grave concern for student privacy. The idea, however, has changed
from its original form in that while dogs could be brought in, random
searches are highly unlikely. As well, RCMP dogs would be used instead of
animals from a private security company to prevent legal difficulties along
the way.

"Where there is the possibility of prosecution as a result of evidence
found, the RCMP will be contacted to conduct the search to ensure that any
evidence seized will be admissible in court," the search and seizure portion
of the draft policy reads. "This may be completed by the police dog service.

"The dogs won't be used regularly, randomly," confirmed Trustee Heather
Stilwell on Thursday, adding while dog searches have never been conducted in
Surrey schools in the past, they may, legally, have been allowed. "This sort
of just takes any of the gray out of it. "But the policy's very, very clear
that principals have the right to open lockers. It's not even a question.
They've got a lot of authority in their own building."

While pleased with the move away from random dog sweeps, the B.C. Civil
Liberties Association (BCCLA) still has concerns with the power of
principals to conduct random searches because of the assumption the student
involved in guilty.

As well, said BCCLA policy director Kirk Tousaw, the regulations are unclear
about whether staff will conduct searches with the police merely alongside,
or whether all searches will be conducted with a warrant.

Whereas police need a warrant to search a locker or a student, school
officials do not.

"Our concern is that they'd be using school officials to legitimize a search
that, if conducted by police, would not have been legitimate," said Tousaw,
adding there should be a search warrant every time. "We don't want school
officials to become arms of the police. Schools are places of learning ...
not places where undue burdens and invasions of privacy are placed on
students."

Patricia Landsley, president of the District Parent Advisory Council, is
greeting the drug rules with mixed emotions.

"We're hoping that it doesn't have to be implemented on a regular basis,"
she said. "Enforcement is the last resort. But at the same time, we have to
protect our children."

She said the key, which is clearly stated in the draft Surrey policy, is
that the responsibility for student safety be shared among all members of
the community, including schools, parents, community groups and the RCMP.

Trustees are expected to vote on the draft safety policy at the next public
school board meeting in two weeks.