Jefferson to Start Random K-9 Drug Searches

Officials at want to be proactive in combating the presence of drugs.

Principal William Schmidt presented to the of Education Monday why the school should begin random K-9 searches to do just that.

K-9 officers would come into Jefferson while the students are kept in their classrooms. The dogs would sniff the lockers and if anything is found, the school will determine whose locker it is and discipline the appropriate student.

Schmidt said drugs aren't an "epidemic" at Jefferson, but substance incidents have occurred in the past.

"It's beyond just rumors," Schmidt said. "We've had incidents yearly."

"There was an issue here last year," said Superintendent Cathy Skinner at the meeting. "I think this would be a real proactive approach from the school."

The searches will show students and parents that the school takes incidents seriously and is protecting its students, Schmidt said.

"We get parents calling here asking why we aren't checking this out, why we're not doing anything," Skinner said.

Board Member Leslie Pollack expressed concern as to a violation of students' rights.

"This is not a police state," Pollack said. "If my kids were still here, I'd be a little queasy about it."

Board Member Jeff Cortez said Jefferson had placed great focus on discipline this school year already.

"With hit after hit after hit with discipline, at a certain point, this is not a jail," Cortez said. "This is a school."

Cortez referred to Jefferson's new lunch policy, which requires students to sit in assigned seats with their homerooms. They then have 10 to 15 minutes to hang outside and be near their friends.

Schmidt said the assigned seats helps staff know which students are missing and ensures students are not wandering the halls, something that was a problem before.

The school has set the expectation of how students are supposed to behave in the beginning, Schmidt said. Once they get it, those policies can be relaxed.

"It's the old teacher adage that you never smile until Thanksgiving break," Board President Thomas Ruggio said. "That's when you have your discipline in place."

Schmidt said Jefferson is a positive atmosphere and he would put a positive spin on the searches, as well. A letter would be sent to parents prior to the first search. After the first search is completed, the school would send a follow-up letter to parents.

Woodridge police Office Jeff Bean said police would limit their involvement as much as possible, meeting students at the police station or after school if there's a "hit," or if something is found.

"The kids know this has been a problem," Bean said. "If we have 600 kids and three locker hits, then 597 kids don't have to worry about that anymore."