SEARCH AND SEIZURE

To maintain order and security in the schools, school authorities are authorized to conduct reasonable searches of school property and equipment as well as of students and their personal effects.  “School authorities” includes school liaison police officers.
School Property and Equipment as well as Personal Effects Left There by Students
School authorities may inspect and search school property and equipment owned or controlled by the school (such as lockers, desks, and parking lots), as well as personal effects left there by a student, without notice to or the consent of the student.  Students have no reasonable expectation of privacy in these places or areas or in their personal effects left there.  This paragraph applies to student vehicles parked on school property.  In addition, Building Principals shall require each high school student, in return for the privilege of parking on school property, to consent in writing to school searches of his or her vehicle, and personal effects therein, without notice and without suspicion of wrongdoing.
The Superintendent or designee may request the assistance of law enforcement officials to conduct inspections and searches of lockers, desks, parking lots, and other school property and equipment for illegal drugs, weapons, or other illegal or dangerous substances or materials, including searches conducted through the use of specially trained dogs.
Students
School authorities may search a student and/or the student’s personal effects in the student’s possession (such as purses, wallets, backpacks, book bags, lunch boxes, etc.)  when there is a reasonable ground for suspecting that the search will produce evidence the particular student has violated or is violating either the law or the District’s student conduct rules.  The search itself must be conducted in a manner which is reasonably related to its objectives and not excessively intrusive in light of the age and sex of the student and the nature of the infraction.

When feasible, the search should be conducted as follows:

  • Outside the view of others, including students;
  • In the presence of a school administrator or adult witness; and 
  • By a certificated employee or liaison police officer of the same sex as the student.

Immediately following a search, a written report shall be made by the school authority who conducted the search, and given to the Superintendent or designee.  The student’s parent(s)/guardian(s) shall be notified of the search as soon as possible.
Seizure of Property
If a search produces evidence that the student has violated or is violating either the law or the District’s policies or rules, such evidence may be seized and impounded by school authorities, and disciplinary action may be taken.  When appropriate, such evidence may be transferred to law enforcement authorities.

SEARCHES – PHYSICAL INTERVENTION POLICY
Individual
Searches can be conducted if “reasonable suspicion” is determined to protect the health, safety or welfare of the District, its employees and students, without notice or consent of the student and without a search warrant.
General
For the protection of our students and to maintain order and security in the schools, school authorities may inspect and search places and areas such as lockers, desks, parking lots, and other school property and equipment owned or controlled by the school, as well as personal effects left in those places and areas by students without notice to or the consent of the student and without a search warrant.  As a matter of public policy, the General Assembly finds that students have no reasonable expectation of privacy in these places and areas or in their personal effects left in these places or areas.  School authorities may request the assistance of law enforcement officials for the purpose of conducting inspections and searches of lockers, desks, parking lots, and other school property and equipment owned or controlled by the school for illegal or dangerous substances or materials, including searches conducted through the use of specially trained dogs.  If a search conducted in accordance with this Section produces evidence that the student has violated or is violating the law, local ordinance, or the school’s policies or rules, then such evidence may be seized by school authorities and disciplinary action may be taken.  School authorities may also turn over such evidence to law enforcement authorities.  The provisions of this subsection apply in all school districts, including special charter districts and districts organized under Article 34.  (Illinois School Code)

SECURITY CAMERAS
District 128 utilizes security cameras throughout its buildings and campuses.  All persons that are on District 128 campuses or in District buildings are subject to video surveillance.