DAYTON CONDUCTS DRUG SWEEP IN SCHOOLS

DAYTON - School and law enforcement officials used a drug-sniffing dog to
check lockers at Dayton's high school and junior high earlier this month
following a series of four expulsions for drug infractions.

"That's a lot for us," said high school Principal Roger Lorenzen. He said
officials wanted to send a message that drugs will not be tolerated.

Yamhill County sheriff's deputies brought in their drug-sniffing dog, Flash,
for a Dec. 4 locker check. The dog alerted on 17 lockers, meaning those
lockers could have become contaminated with drug residue at some point,
Lorenzen said.

School officials called the students using those lockers out of class and
had them empty their lockers and their pockets. "We didn't find anything,
but that doesn't mean it's not out there," the principal said.

Schools have the legal right to search student lockers because the lockers
are owned by the district and located on district property.

Despite its loss of a school resource officer and an assistant principal -
positions that fell victim to budget shortfalls - Dayton schools are taking
a proactive approach, Lorenzen said.

Tardy and absence policies have been adjusted so students complete detention
obligations without missing classes, for instance, he said. Next year,
Dayton schools will work with Sheridan schools to share the West Valley
district's meth awareness program.

Drug abuse has a widespread impact on students, Lorenzen said, leading to
illness, truancy, missed assignments and other issues.

He said no school is immune. "If it's in our society, it will in some way
impact school," he said.