DRUG DETECTION TEAM

The Drug Detection Team shall represent a joint combined effort between law enforcement agencies in St. Mary Parish, private agencies, and the St. Mary Parish School Board.  The purpose of the Drug Detection Team shall be to provide for the use of trained drug detection dogs in assisting School Board administrative personnel in locating drugs on campuses.  The Detection Team shall consist of:

• • The Superintendent or her designee who shall oversee the team.
  • A commissioned law enforcement officer with a trained drug detection dog.
  • The principal of the school where the search is being conducted.
  • Such other school personnel as may be designated by the school principal.

The representative from the School Board Central Office, who shall be the director of the team, shall be responsible for all aspects of the search by the Drug Detection Team.  The commissioned law enforcement officer, who is serving as the handler for the drug detection dog, shall perform his or her duties under general supervision of the director of the team.  The school principal or designee shall perform the actual search for the suspected illegal drugs or other items when the presence of such, has been detected by the drug detection dog. To ensure the effectiveness of the program while safeguarding the rights of all concerned, the following components of the Drug Detection Program shall be adhered to in the detection and removal of items prohibited by law or Board policy:

1. • Any student arrested for intentional distribution of, or possession with intent to distribute any illegal narcotic, drug, or other controlled substance on school property shall be referred by the superintendent or his designee for testing or screening by a qualified medical professional for evidence of abuse of alcohol, illegal narcotics, drugs, or other controlled dangerous substances.
   • If evidence of abuse is found, the student shall be referred to an alcohol and drug abuse treatment professional chosen by the student's parent or guardian.  If the student is found by the professional to need treatment, as certified in writing by the medical professional, such documentation may be used to initiate reopening of the student's case.  The St. Mary Parish School Board will take into consideration the student's agreement to receive treatment as a positive factor in the final decision relative to any final disciplinary action.
   • Any student who has been expelled from any public or non-public school within or outside the State of Louisiana for possession on school property or on a school bus of a firearm, knife, or other dangerous weapon or instrument  customarily used or intended for probable use as a dangerous weapon, or for possession with intent to distribute, or distributing, selling, giving, or lending while on school property or on a school bus any controlled dangerous substance governed by the Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substances Law will not be admitted to a public school in St. Mary Parish until the student has enrolled and participated in an appropriate rehabilitation or counseling program related to the reason or reasons for the student's expulsion.
   • The rehabilitation or counseling required by this policy shall be provided by existing or new programs that have been approved by the juvenile or family courts having jurisdiction, if applicable, or by the school system and shall be at no additional cost to the School Board.