DRUG DOGS TO SEARCH SCHOOLS

Searches Will Take An Hour And Will Occur More Than Once During The Year

WATKINSVILLE -- The Oconee County School System will conduct an unspecified
number of searches with drug dogs this year at the high school and both
middle school campuses, officials announced Thursday.

A surprise search was conducted last year at Oconee County High School by a
private South Carolina company, Raid Corps Inc., which has been contracted
again this year for $5,000. That search took four hours, but this year,
the searches are expected to take about an hour and will occur more than
once during the school year.

School Superintendent Shannon Adams declined to say how many times the
schools will be searched, but he believes the measure will be a deterrent
to anyone planning to take drugs or contraband onto campus.

"Parents in this community send their children to school every day with the
expectation they won't be exposed to illegal drugs or encounter a weapon on
campus. That's the main purpose -- to keep the schools as safe for kids and
the staff members as we can,'' Adams said.

''Our hopes are we'll find nothing,'' said John Osborne, assistant
superintendent for student services.

''There are many things considered contraband on school campuses that our
kids utilize on a daily basis and that's why we've got to put the red alert
out there.'' Items like pocketknives and ammunition -- even fireworks --
are not allowed on campus. Last year a lot of ammunition was found in
vehicles, though none was found inside the school.

Osborne said many students hunt, but they need to know to check their
vehicles and remove any such items before going to school.

Oconee County Sheriff Scott Berry is involved in the process this year;
last year, his office was not brought in.

School officials said that was a communications breakdown, as they told
Raid Corps to come when they wanted without advance notice.

Berry said this year Raid Corps will notify him on the day of the search
and he will give school administrators at least three minutes notice.

Local deputies will also accompany Raid Corps officers and the dogs. When
the search begins, students undergo a ''lockdown,'' meaning they must stay
in whatever classroom they happen to be in.

''While the search is conducted no one can come and go from the campus,''
Berry said. Oconee High Principal Mark Channell said all students have
handbooks detailing what they cannot bring on campus.

In last year's search, three marijuana charges were made. Adams said some
of the criticism from last year's search stemmed from the fact that it was
a surprise.

This year, he said, students and parents know the searches will take place.
Middle schools were added, according to Adams, because that is an age some
students begin experimenting with drugs.

Students found with contraband like drugs and alcohol will be dealt with
administratively by the school system, and by law enforcement, Berry said.
Students with other items not allowed on campus will be handled by the
school system.