School Board OKs Canine Program

The Las Virgenes Unified School District Board of Education voted unanimously Tuesday night to establish a program that would bring trained dogs on campus at random to detect drugs, and in some cases weapons in classrooms, lockers and cars.

Despite reported opposition from students who said the move would be an infringement of their constitutional rights, the trustees agreed that Modesto-based Interquest Group’s Safe Schools Canines was a next step toward drug-free middle and senior high campuses.

“It’s a deterrent for kids bringing drugs or weapons to school,” board President Judy Jordan said. “It’s not the complete solution to the problem--there’s no one easy solution to a deep, societal problem--but this is certainly one way, one deterrent.”

Although the dogs will have access to most areas of the campuses, they will not come in direct contact with students or employees. And if drugs are found, students will be suspended, possibly expelled, and reported to the sheriff’s station, district officials said.

The canines are trained to detect illicit and prescription drugs, as well as over-the-counter medicines with a potential for abuse, said Linda M. Cohen, district coordinator of special programs. The dogs also can smell gunpowder in guns and fireworks.

The board limited a contract with the corporation to one year, but said it would decide later how many times the dogs would be used at each school. The service will cost $640 per day for the visits, and the dogs can check from one to five schools per day, said Cohen.

The dogs will be brought in beginning in September, and will conduct checks at Agoura and Calabasas high schools, Indian Hills Continuation High School, as well as Lindero Canyon and Arthur E. Wright middle schools.