COLORADO PRINCIPAL DEFENDS USE OF DRUG DOGS

Students in one Colorado high school might soon have something new greeting
them in the hallways after class: drug-sniffing dogs.

Longmont High School principal Mary White plans to use dogs to sniff out
drugs in student lockers and cars, but she says she would prefer that they
didn't find any.

"I really hope we don't find anything," she said. "But if we do, we'll deal
with it."

She defended the controversial plan at a forum this week attended by about
30 students and parents. The dogs, which would be supplied by Longmont
police, would search while students are in class. School officials haven't
decided how often to use the dogs.

Some students said the dogs will erode trust between students and
administrators.

"The two students you catch on the third dog search - is that worth the
students at the school who feel uncomfortable?" asked Longmont High student
body President Tony Pares. "It goes too far."

But fellow student Andy Hopping, a junior, said students who bring drugs to
school give up their right to expect trust from school administrators.

"They're just doing it as a safeguard," he said.

Principal White said she struggled with the issue but decided the drug
problem is serious enough to warrant a more active response than the
current drug-education presentations and assemblies.

"I want to send a message to students who continually bring drugs into the
school," she said.

She said students and parents alike urged her to take stronger action,
including a parent who said her son was offered a joint of marijuana in the
hall between classes.

White said three students have been caught with drugs this week alone at
the school. About 120 of 150 suspensions at the school last year involved
drugs.

"I have a responsibility to protect every kid that's in this school," White
said.

"The only ones who have anything to worry about are those who are doing
something illegal," she said.