FARMINGTON — An Regional School Unit 9 board member said the district’s policy allowing random, unannounced drug dog “sniff” searches at Mt. Blue High School needs to be used more to combat illegal drugs.
But school administrators say the problem is under control and instituting sniff searches would lower morale and create an environment of suspicion rather than build one of trust.
“This is the first time I have heard that Mt. Blue is considered a ‘drug school’,” Principal Monique Poulin told the school board Tuesday. “We don’t think drugs are rampant in our school,” she said. “Damage to morale is the bigger thing for me.”
She said administrators follow up on all leads from students, teachers and parents, and more can be done to encourage anonymous tips to keep kids safe.
Directors were split over board member Claire Andrews’ request that the 2002 Canine Drug Search Policy be used more frequently and no vote was taken at Tuesday’s board meeting.
Andrews said parents have contacted her with concerns over stories that drugs were available at school. She said people are also worried about the spread of the hallucinogenic drug known as bath salts.
“This is a tool that is underutilized,” said Andrews, an attorney, referring to the drug search policy. “We owe it to our students to create a drug-free environment.”
“Just doing it occasionally could have positive results,” she said. “There are drugs where they do not have to be.”
She said drug searches have been used at neighboring Rangeley Lakes Regional High School, and Spruce Mountain High School in Jay uses it once a year.
Poulin responded that the search in Jay resulted in one positive hit on a car but that no drugs were found inside. Mt. Blue has had 25 searches since 2002 that resulted in only three hits of drugs or drug paraphernalia.
She said student morale is already fragile due to the disruption caused by the construction of the new school, which has taken away use of the gym, playing fields, library and other facilities.
The “sniff” is done by a police drug dog and its handler, with any direct search on school property conducted by high school administrators.
Superintendent Michael Cormier also opposes random drug searches, both because of the potential legal challenges and the creation of a police-state environment.
He said the policy was first put in place at the request of another principal. If the school board wants Poulin to use it more often, it would have to direct her to do so without his recommendation.
Instead, he suggests updating the one-page policy, using a model document from the Maine School Management Association.
Director Iris Silverstein, a pediatrician from Farmington, also does not favor random sniff searches that would have students kept in classrooms while the dog, its handler and school authorities searched along the hallway lockers and the parking lot.
“I would hope we would promote giving students responsibility and respect,” Silverstein said. “We want a drug-free environment but it is not the best environment when students become suspects and we create an us-versus-them mentality.”
This type of “suspicion-less” search would be illegal in an environment of adults but is OK because it is on school property, she said.
Mt. Blue junior Taylor Harris, a student representative on the board, also disagrees with random searches.
“I would not feel comfortable having my stuff searched. School is supposed to be a safe and nurturing environment,” she said. “Something like this could scar kids.”
Directors Helen Wilkey of Vienna, Keith Swett of Wilton, and Betsey Hyde of Temple were among those who supported Andrews’ request.
Director Robert Flick of Farmington opposed it, calling it is an “invasion of our rights” to undertake a random search in the hopes of catching someone with drugs.
Board Chairman Mark Prentiss said the policy is in place and administrators know they can use it when needed but he did not support random searches.
And Foster Technology Center Director Glenn Kapiloff said the presence of Farmington Police officer Bridgette Gilbert, the school resource officer, was a great deterrent to anyone bringing drugs into school. He said the policy, if utilized, could be demoralizing.
“It could do more harm than good,” he said.
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