Theft/Vandalism
School property is provided through public funds and students should care for this property as if it were their own. The buildings, playing fields, and all of the equipment in/on them will remain a source of pride to the community if each student takes proper care of what the district has provided.
The staff is committed to work with students to demonstrate respect for school property. All forms of thievery, vandalism, or malicious damage to the school or to the property of other students, including those committed in the name of “tradition” are considered very serious matters. Students involved in such matters will be subject to:
- Financial restitution
- Suspension
- Prosecution under the law
**Parents are reminded that State law makes parents liable for damage done by their child.**
Gambling
Students caught gambling (betting) in whatever form – flipping, pitching cards, cards, and/or shooting dice, etc. – will be subject to disciplinary action.
Search and Seizure
School lockers, desks and other such equipment are not the private property of students but the property of the school district. Students have no reasonable expectation of privacy with respect to these places and school officials retain complete control over them. This means that student lockers, desks and other school storage places may be subject to search at any time by school officials, without prior notice to students and without their consent.
Under special circumstances, school officials may search students, particularly if there is reasonable suspicion that a student possesses illegal matter (for example, a dangerous weapon or illegal drugs). Before searching a student or the student’s belongings, the student will be given the opportunity to admit that they possess physical evidence that violates the law or the district code of conduct and surrender that evidence. Searches will be limited to the extent necessary to locate the evidence sought. Whenever practical, searches will be conducted in the privacy of administrative offices and students will be present when their possessions are being searched.
POLICE INVOLVEMENT IN SEARCHES AND INTERROGATIONS OF STUDENTS
District officials are committed to cooperating with police officials and other law enforcement authorities to maintain a safe school environment. Police officials, however, have limited authority to interview or search students in schools or at school functions, or to use school facilities in connection with police work. Police officials may enter school property or a school function to question or search a student or to conduct a formal investigation involving students only if they have:
- A search or an arrest warrant.
- Probable cause to believe a crime has been committed on school property or at a school function, or
- Been invited by school officials.
Before police officials are permitted to question or search any student, the building principal or his or her designee shall first try to notify the student’s parent to give the parent the opportunity to be present during the police questioning or search. If the student’s parent cannot be contacted prior to the police questioning or search, the parent shall be informed of the questioning or search, in writing, by building principal or his or her designee as soon thereafter as possible. The building principal or his or her designee will be present during any police questioning or search of a student on school property or at a school function.
Students who are questioned by police officials on school property or at a school function will be afforded the same rights they have outside the school. This means:
- They must be informed of their legal rights.
- They may remain silent if they so desire.
- They may request the presence of an attorney.
** The School Resource Officer (SRO) may be involved in school-related investigations.**