Bartholomew Consolidated School Board members are mulling over a policy about conducting student searches using handheld metal detectors.
Earlier this year, BCSC requested and received 46 of the handheld metal detector wands from the state. The state program provided one metal detector for every 250 students.
BCSC is proposing to add a new policy about the devices to the search and seizure section of the corporation’s guidelines. The proposed policy wording calls for any searches conducted with the devices to be conducted in an orderly and safe manner and consistent with minimal intrusion into a student’s privacy rights.
The policy calls for students and their belongings to be screened by school corporation employees, consistent with industry standards.
One of the first questions about the policy came from board Vice President Jill Shedd, who questioned what industry standards meant.
Superintendent Jim Roberts responded that he would make sure to find out, but suggested it refers to maintaining the devices, employee training, among other requirements related to using the equipment properly.
The school corporation worked with Seamus Boyce, an Indianapolis attorney with the law firm of Church Church Hittle + Antrim, on the wording of the policy, and also proposed additions to administrative guidelines that would be used to implement it, Roberts said. The discussion was part of a school board strategic planning session Friday at the BCSC administrative offices.
For more on this story, see Saturday’s Republic.
