SCHOOL BOARDS CAN UNLEASH SNIFFER DOGS ANY TIME THEY WANT

EDMONTON - Learning Minister Lyle Oberg is leaving the door open
for more school boards to use dogs trained to detect drugs.

His department has no authority to enforce a provincewide policy, but
he would have no problem with school boards bringing in drug-detecting
dogs, he said.

''It can go ahead,'' Oberg said Monday during question period in the
legislature.

He also said he and Solicitor General Heather Forsyth will take a look
at funding drug-sniffing dogs in schools.

''This is one element we can act on,'' said Oberg.

Some schools in the province, including those in both the Greater St.
Albert Catholic School Division and the St. Albert Protestant Separate
School Division, work with the RCMP in using the dogs.

''We have had some expulsions,'' said Barry Wowk, a deputy
superintendent with the Protestant board.

He said drug-sniffing dogs show up in schools unannounced and, if
drugs are found, the police seize them. Students involved are
disciplined by principals, but no criminal charges are laid.