FILE: JCABB
USE OF METAL DETECTORS
The Orleans Parish School Board recognizes that it has an obligation to adopt all steps necessary to provide a safer environment for the students, staff and public under its jurisdiction. Therefore, the School Board authorizes the use of metal detectors to minimize the presence of implements that may be used as weapons on School Board-owned property and/or campuses or at school sponsored events. Searches with metal detectors may be performed by law enforcement agencies or school personnel or a combination of both parties. All guidelines in the School Board's Policy Manual concerning searches of a student, employee, and/or other person, shall apply when metal detectors indicate the presence of an item(s) on a student's, employee's and/or any other subject's person or in his/her personal effects. The use of metal detectors shall be approved by administrative personnel prior to implementation of a search.
GUIDELINES
The use of metal detectors, whether stationary or hand-held, for the search of students, employees and/or other persons shall be in accordance with the following guidelines:
When metal detectors are used, the individuals to be searched shall be requested to remove all metal objects from their pockets along with any bags, parcels, or other containers being carried. If the detector activates on a person, the individual conducting the search shall request that any remaining metal objects be removed. If the detector activates again, the individual shall be personally searched by an administrator of the same sex. At least one witness, also of the same sex as the individual, shall be present throughout the search. The personal search shall be conducted only in the area of the body which activated the metal detector. The object causing the metal detector to activate shall be removed and the individual searched with the metal detector again. The search shall continue until the metal detector ceases to activate on the subject's person.
At the start of each school year, parents and students shall receive written notification of the school district's policy to conduct unannounced searches of students, school employees and any other person on School Board property and at school sponsored events. Once said notices have been disseminated, these unannounced search procedures shall be implemented on a district-wide basis.
Students shall be given notice that they are subject to a search with a metal detector or by other means authorized, as a condition of entry in school, bus, or school activity, and that by the fact of their entry, they shall be deemed to have freely and voluntarily consented to such search of their persons and/or possessions.
Ref: La. Rev. Stat. Ann. ยงยง17:416, 17:416.3
State v. Stein, 203 Kan. 638 456 P.2d (1969)
Orleans Parish School Board