INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 761
OWATONNA, MINNESOTA
Adopted: August 13, 1996
Revised: November 28, 2022
502 SEARCH OF STUDENT LOCKERS, DESKS, PERSONAL POSSESSIONS AND STUDENT’S PERSON
I. PURPOSE
The purpose of this policy is to provide for a safe and healthy educational environment by enforcing the school district’s policies against contraband.
II. GENERAL STATEMENT OF POLICY
A. Lockers and Personal Possessions within a Locker
Pursuant to Minnesota statutes, school lockers are the property of the school district. At no time does the school district relinquish its exclusive control of lockers provided for the convenience of students. Inspection of the interior of lockers may be conducted by school authorities for any reason at any time, without notice, without student consent, and without a search warrant. The personal possessions of students within a school locker may be searched only when school officials have a reasonable suspicion that the search will uncover evidence of a violation of law or school rules. As soon as practicable after the search of a student’s personal possessions, the school authorities must provide notice of the search to students whose lockers were searched unless disclosure would impede an ongoing investigation by police or school officials.
B. Desks
School desks are the property of the school district. At no time does the school district relinquish its exclusive control of desks provided for the convenience of students. Inspection of the interior of desks may be conducted by school officials for any reason at any time, without notice, without student consent, and without a search warrant.
C. Personal Possessions and Student’s Person
The personal possessions of students and/or a student’s person may be searched when school officials have a reasonable suspicion that the search will uncover a violation of law or school rules. The search will be reasonable in its scope and intrusiveness.
D. A violation of this policy occurs when students use lockers and desks for unauthorized purposes or to store contraband. A violation occurs when students carry contraband on their person or in their personal possessions.
III. DEFINITIONS
A. “Contraband” means any unauthorized item possession of which is prohibited by school district policy and/or law. It includes but is not limited to weapons and “look-alikes,” alcoholic beverages, controlled substances and “look-alikes,” overdue books and other materials belonging to the school district, and stolen property.
B. “Personal possessions” includes but is not limited to purses, backpacks, bookbags, packages, and clothing.
C. “Reasonable suspicion” means that a school official has grounds to believe that the search will result in evidence of a violation of school district policy, rules, and/or law. Reasonable suspicion may be based on a school official’s personal observation, a report from a student or staff member, a student’s suspicious behavior, a student’s age and past history or record of conduct, both in and out of the school context, or other reliable sources of information.
D. “Reasonable scope” means that the scope and/or intrusiveness of the search is reasonably related to the objectives of the search. Factors to consider in determining what is reasonable include the seriousness of the suspected infraction, the reliability of the information, the necessity of acting without delay, the existence of exigent circumstances necessitating an immediate search and further investigation (e.g. to prevent violence, serious and immediate risk of harm or destruction of evidence), and the age of the student.
IV. PROCEDURES
A. School officials may inspect the interiors of lockers and desks for any reason at any time without notice, without student consent and without a search warrant.
B. A school official conducting a search may determine when it is appropriate to have a second official present as an observer.
C. School officials may inspect the personal possessions of a student and/or a student’s person based on a reasonable suspicion that the search will uncover a violation of law or school rules. A search of personal possessions of a student and/or a student’s person will be reasonable in its scope and intrusiveness.
D. As soon as practicable after a search of personal possessions within a locker pursuant to this policy, the school authorities must provide notice of the search to students whose possessions were searched unless disclosure would impede an ongoing investigation by police or school officials.
E. Whenever feasible, a search of a student shall be conducted in private by a school official of the same sex. A second school official of the same sex shall be present as an observer during the search of a student.
F. A strip search is a search involving the removal of coverings or clothing from private areas. Mass strip searches, or body cavity searches, are prohibited. Strip searches will be conducted only in circumstances involving imminent danger.
G. A copy of this policy will be available in the student handbook or disseminated in any other way which school officials deem appropriate.
V. DIRECTIVES AND GUIDELINES
School administration may establish reasonable directives and guidelines which address specific needs of the school district, such as use of adhesives or other attached objects in lockers, standards of cleanliness and care of the lockers or desks, and posting of appropriate pin-ups and posters.
VI. SEIZURE OF CONTRABAND
If a search yields contraband, school officials will seize the item and, where appropriate, turn it over to legal officials for ultimate disposition.
VIII. VIOLATIONS
A student found to have violated this policy and/or the directives and guidelines implementing it shall be subject to discipline in accordance with the school district’s Student Discipline Policy, which may include suspension, exclusion, or expulsion, and the student may, when appropriate, be referred to legal officials.
Legal References:
U.S. Constitution, Fourth Amendment
Minn. Const., art. I, § 10
New Jersey v. T.L.O., 469 U.S. 325, 105 S.Ct. 733, 83 L.Ed.2d 720 (1985)
Minn. Stat. §121A.72 (School Locker Policy)
G.C. v. Owensboro Public Schools, 711 F.3d 623 (6th Cir. 2013)
Cross References:
Policy 417 (Chemical Use/Abuse)
Policy 418 (Drug-Free Workplace / Drug-Free School)
Policy 501 (School Weapons)
Policy 506 (Student Discipline)
Policy 524 (Electronic Technologies Acceptable Use Policy)