School searches are topic of community forum Sunday

How do you feel about unannounced drug searches in public schools? Citizens will have a chance to weigh in on the subject Sunday at 2 p.m. in the Kennett HIgh School library in Redstone. Two Kennett High students Marion Dillon and Ryan McDonald along with school principal Jack Loynd and Barbara Keshen, staff attorney for the New Hampshire Civil Liberties Union, will discuss school policies that allow canine searches and other searches of public high school students.A search was held at Kennett High School last November. No illegal drugs were found in the morning search by five police K-9 dogs and local police and school officials. The dogs did discover two student vehicles containing suspected marijuana. The vehicles were towed from the scene."I think it was a very favorable exercise," Lt. Chris Perley, of the Conway Police Department, said, at the time. "I think it speaks well of our school."Keshen said the search appeared legal but tipped a delicate balance between balance between privacy and security.According to a press release issued Wednesday by the New Hampshire Civil Liberties Union, "Parents, students, educators and interested members of the public are invited to participate in a discussion of the tension between the constitutionally protected privacy rights of students and the need for administrators to provide a safe learning environment for students. Canine searches have also occurred in Portsmouth and ConVal and in other public high schools in New Hampshire." "This is an issue we have been involved in for some time because of the searches," Claire Ebel, of the Civil Liberties Union and the moderator for Sunday's discussion, said Friday. "We contacted Principal Loynd and asked if he would be willing to participate in a community discussion and he graciously agreed to."Ebel said the Civil Liberties Union held a forum last fall in Portsmouth that was well attended and involved the mayor and superintendent of schools. This fall there are three forums planned: Conway, Hanover, and one in southern New Hampshire. "This is one of those issues people don't think about much until it's their school or their kid," Ebel said. "I'm hoping for a good open discussion."School superintendent Carl Nelson was pleased with last year's search, and he praised law enforcement officers for their efforts. "We're very pleased that the police reported the school is clean," he said. "Two vehicles did have to be towed from the parking lot, but it was good to see that there was an issue and the police dealt with it right away. I think it was good test for our school, and one we'll continue to do. Our job is to have a drug free and safe school zone."Perley said the purpose of the search was "to confirm compliance with school rules and state laws regarding the use and possession of illegal drugs in and around school property. Compliance searches are a part of a comprehensive process designed to ensure the health and safety of students, staff and visitors to Kennett High."Perley said both the interior and exterior of the school were searched, including both student and faculty areas. The actual search was conducted by school personnel, supported by police officers and narcotics sniffing police K-9s.