7440.02 - USE OF METAL DETECTORS
In view of escalating school violence, the potential presence of weapons in our schools, and the school corporation’s duty to maintain a safe learning environment, the Board of School Trustees authorizes the use of metal detectors to check a student's person or personal effects when the school administration has reasonable suspicion to believe that weapons are in the possession of an identified student. The School Resource Officer (SRO), law enforcement officer or trained administrator is authorized to use a metal detector to search the student. Any search of a student's person as a result of the activation of the detector will be conducted in private and in accordance with the policy on personal searches. Only school administrators who have been trained in the usage of metal detectors, law enforcement officers, or SROs shall operate the metal detectors under the direction of the administration.
Notice of the Board policy and procedures on the use of metal detectors will be posted on the website of the School Corporation.
The Superintendent or designee shall develop procedures for implementing this policy. The metal detector checks will be done only in accordance with the provisions of the Board policy and procedures by school personnel or law enforcement officers under the supervision of the school administrator.
USE OF METAL DETECTORS -- PROCEDURES
The following procedures for the use of metal detectors in the schools are developed pursuant to Board policy on the Use of Metal Detectors. The Superintendent may modify or expand these procedures in any manner consistent with the Board’s policy.
A notice will be posted in a central location at LES, LMS and LHS stating that weapons are not permitted at school and that students may be required to submit to a metal detector check. In addition, the metal detector policy and these procedures will be included in the student handbooks for each school.
Before conducting the metal detector checks, the participating trained administrator, law enforcement officer or SRO will explain the scanning process to students, emphasizing that the checks are intended to maintain safe schools.
An administrator, officer or SRO will escort each student with his/her personal effects into a designated area to proceed with the metal detector check. An adult will closely observe students to make sure no objects are removed from pockets or personal effects.
The administrator, officer or SRO will ask the student to remove all metal-containing objects from his/her clothing and personal effects. The trained administrator, officer or SRO will then scan the student without touching his or her body and scan the outside of the student's personal effects. If the student refuses to cooperate, the trained administrator, officer or SRO may proceed with the check in the presence of another adult.
If the metal detector is activated during the scanning of the student's effects, the administrator, officer or SRO will ask the student to open the bag, purse, etc., and the officer will proceed to look for weapons. If the metal detector is activated during the scanning of the student's person, the student will be given a second opportunity to remove any metal-containing object from his/her person. A second scan will be conducted and if the metal detector is activated again, the students will be placed in a supervised area with a law enforcement officer or SRO who will determine the best course of action moving forward. These actions could include:
the law enforcement officer or SRO conducting a search of the bag, purse or other object with a witness of the same sex based on school policy of searches
the law enforcement officer or SRO conducting a pat down of the person with a witness of the same sex based on school policy of searches
Parents/Guardians of any student who is searched for "reasonable suspicion" shall be notified of the search within twenty-four (24) hours if possible.
METAL DETECTOR CHECKS OF INDIVIDUAL STUDENTS
Before conducting a metal detector check of an individual student, the administrator, officer or SRO must have individualized reasonable suspicion that the student is in possession of an illegal or unauthorized metal-containing object or weapon. The provisions of the Board policy regarding personal searches and the use of metal detectors shall be followed under these circumstances.
If a properly conducted search yields a weapon or any other illegal material, it shall be turned over to the proper legal authorities for disposition.