March 15, 2007

Dear parent/guardian/caregiver:

In an effort to protect the health and safety of our children, I am authorizing our local law enforcement agencies to conduct random searches by drug dogs of our school buses and schools. I previously authorized these random searches of the parking lots of all school system properties. We must make our schools “no drug” zones.

Buses will be searched according to a random schedule developed by the law enforcement agency, with the provision that every bus serving students in grades 5-12 will be searched at least one time during each school year. Upon arrival at school, school personnel will ensure that students have safely exited the bus before the officers and dogs enter the bus to search. Students will leave backpacks, purses, instrument cases and all other carry-on items on the bus during the screening. Students will be allowed to retrieve their possessions once the dogs have been moved to at least one hundred feet away from the bus.

In addition, schools and buses will be searched by officers and their drug dogs on request by the principal of the school. Students will not come into contact with the dogs.

I see this process as a deterrent to the presence of drugs at school and welcome other suggestions from you. Please talk to your children about the dangers of drug and alcohol use. With your help, we will do everything possible to ensure the well-being of our students.

Sincerely,

Nancy S. Zambito