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School Lawyer Advises Easing Policy on Search

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SPECIAL TO THE TIMES

A scaled-back weapons policy is being considered in the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District.

At first, district officials proposed to the Board of Trustees a tough policy that would have allowed searches of anyone at schools or school functions.

However, the district’s lawyers reviewed the proposed policy and recommended changing it to require “reasonable suspicion” that a person may be carrying a weapon before a search is permitted, according to Dennis Kreil, who wrote the proposed policy.

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“Legal counsel suggested (changing the policy) to comply with recent court decisions on student searches,” Kreil said.

As originally written, the policy would have allowed school administrators to conduct random searches or even install metal detectors.

The board discussed the policy this week, but didn’t adopt it. It will be reviewed at the Sept. 28 board meeting.

If approved, the policy would also broaden the list of prohibited weapons. In addition to banning guns, martial arts devices, knives and other weapons, the proposed policy would outlaw students carrying razor blades and any other cutting or puncturing tool.

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