Board Policies & Rules
The policies and administrative rules of the Grand Rapids Public Schools Board of Education, Kent County, Michigan, are the result of a combined effort of the professional staff of the Michigan Association of School Boards (MASB), the Board of Education, and the District's staff.
The staff of MASB has written the policy and rule model and integrated into that model the valid policies and procedures selected by the District at the time of the first draft. After forwarding the first draft a MASB staff member and selected staff members of the District worked in consort to edit all of the proposed policies and rules resulting in preparation of a final draft to be presented to the Board of Education.
The Board has appointed a Policy Committee to review language, laws, and the current environment to update or create a new policy.
Searches of lockers, motorized vehicles, electronic devices, and scholars will be conducted under the appropriate legal standard, to maintain the safety and security of scholars, teachers, guests, and school property.
Lockers
All lockers assigned to scholars are the property of the District. At no time does the District relinquish its exclusive control of its lockers. As such, scholars have no legitimate expectation of privacy in the lockers. The school principal will have custody of all combinations to all lockers and locks. Scholars are prohibited from placing locks on any locker without the prior approval of the principal.
The school may assign temporary use of lockers to scholars for their convenience and the lockers may be used only as permitted by the rules developed by the Superintendent. The Board authorizes the principal or designee to search lockers and their contents at any time, without notice, and without parent(s)/guardian(s) or scholar consent. Random searches may be conducted pursuant to a method and/or schedule approved by the Superintendent.
The Principal may request the assistance of law enforcement in conducting a locker search pursuant to state statute. If law enforcement is summoned, the principal or other person in charge at the time must supervise the search. In conducting a search, the privacy rights of the scholar regarding any items discovered that are neither illegal nor against school policy, codes, and rules, will be respected.
Any illegal or unauthorized items found during a locker search or items deemed to be a threat to the safety and security of others will be seized. Such items include, but are not limited to:
- Firearms;
- Explosives;
- Dangerous weapons;
- Flammable material;
- Illegal controlled substances or controlled substances analogues or other intoxicants;
- Contraband;
- Poisons; and/or
- Stolen property.
Law enforcement authorities will be notified immediately of seizure of such items, or of items that must be reported to law enforcement under the Statewide School Safety Information Policy. The items seized will be turned over to law enforcement. The parent(s)/guardian(s) of a minor scholar or a scholar 18 years of age or older, will be notified by the principal of items removed from the locker. A copy of this policy and accompanying administrative rules regarding locker searches will be provided annually to each scholar and parent(s)/guardian(s) of the scholar assigned a school locker.
Motorized Vehicles
Scholar use of a motorized vehicle on school property is a privilege. Motorized vehicles brought onto school property by scholars are subject to search by the principal, without notice or consent, if the principal reasonably suspects that the contents of the motorized vehicle may present a threat or potential threat to the health, safety, or welfare of other scholars staff, or the school in general.
In the case of a locked motor vehicle, every effort will be made to have the vehicle unlocked by the scholar before proceeding with the search. Scholars refusing to cooperate in allowing a search of a vehicle brought by them onto school property will be subject to disciplinary action up to and including revocation of driving privileges on school property and/or long-term suspension or expulsion.
Scholars
Upon reasonable suspicion, and in order to protect the health, safety, or welfare of the scholars under school jurisdiction, the principal is authorized to search scholars. All searches will be carried out in the presence of an adult witness.
Electronic Devices
Scholar use of electronic devices on school property is a privilege and subject to the policy and procedure set out in the Scholar Handbook and relevant Board policy.
Scholars have no legitimate expectation of privacy in any District-owned electronic device. At no time does the District relinquish its rights in its electronic devices. The Board authorizes the principal to search District-owned electronic devices and their contents at any time, without notice, and without parent(s)/guardian(s) or scholar consent.
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