Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District trustees add to search and seizure policy, adopt new property damage policy

A “search and seizure” policy on the books for 40 years in the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District has been revised to add a paragraph on the potential use of trained dogs to detect the presence of prohibited objects on school grounds and at off-campus school activities.

The short addition states: “In an effort to keep the schools free of dangerous contraband, the district may use specially trained, nonagressive dogs to detect and alert staff to the presence of substances prohibited by law or board policy.”

Further, the addition states: “The dogs may sniff the air around lockers, desks or vehicles on district property or at district-sponsored events,” but the dogs “shall not sniff individual students or other persons and may not sniff any personal items on their person.”

The revision was adopted on a unanimous vote of trustees and takes effect Nov. 8.

Also supporting the revision was student trustee and Yorba Linda High senior Nathan Brown. He is filling the slot that rotates among the district's high schools each semester. The student trustees began casting “preferential” votes during the 2018-19 school year.

Still in effect is the existing statement that illegal, dangerous and prohibited objects “may be seized by school officials and may be placed in the custody of appropriate law enforcement personnel as soon as possible after seizure.”

And: “Any seized objects found not to be illegal shall be returned to the individual after school hours or to the parent/guardian.” The policy cites 18 sections of the state's education code as legal references.

Adopted earlier this school year and now in effect is the district's first-ever policy that provides guidelines for “recovery for property loss or damage,” also approved on a 5-0 vote by trustees.

According to the policy, the district “shall seek reimbursement...from the parent/guardian of a minor child or from any other responsible individual,” when “district property is damaged due to the willful misconduct of a student or other person....”

The policy allows collecting a debt owed by a student or former student due to vandalism or to cover the replacement cost of district books, supplies or property loaned to a student that the student “willfully fails to return or that is willfully cut, defaced or otherwise injured.”

The district “may withhold the student's grades, diploma and/or transcripts until the student's parents/guardians have paid for the damages” or voluntary repair work has been completed.

The policy doesn't apply to a student who is a current or former homeless or foster child.

Also approved by trustees is a resolution seeking additional funding for student mental wellness. The money will be dispersed by the county Board of Supervisors under provisions of Proposition 63 passed in 2004.

The resolution asks that the district be included in a collaborative planning process to determine how to spend the funds.