DRUG-SNIFFING CANINES MAY RETURN TO SIMI VALLEY SCHOOLS : SURVEY SHOWS MAJORITY OF STUDENTS SUPPORT PLAN.

Byline: Alicia Doyle Daily News Staff Writer

Bolstered by a survey that shows a majority of students support using police dogs to sniff out drugs on campus, trustees are considering bringing the canines back in the fall to junior high and high schools.

``Even though it's not gonna stop all the problems, it's one deterrent,'' said school board President Judy Barry. ``I certainly would support it.''

During initial searches in May and June at the district's four junior high and two high schools, a team of drug-sniffing dogs found drugs in only one locker at Royal High School.

Barry says, however, that the program should continue.

``If we truly want to have drug-free campuses, this would be an additional deterrent,'' Barry said.

A student survey conducted by the district after the first search last semester showed 68 percent of students knew that the canines were on school grounds. Thirty percent actually saw the dogs on campus, and 22 percent knew whether or not drugs had been found as a result of the search.

Overall, 67 percent of students indicated the program should continue next year, according to the survey.

Some students, however, said the dog searches are a bad idea.

``It's a violation of privacy,'' said Aubri Webb, who spoke in opposition to the program last semester before the school board. ``They're sending the message that we aren't to be trusted.''

The Simi Valley Unified School District piloted the canine program last spring in collaboration with the Simi Valley Police Department's K-9 unit.

School officials implemented the program hoping to eliminate drugs on campus by conducting unscheduled searches of students' lockers. The K-9 unit agreed to help with the district's efforts for free by bringing up to 10 dogs at a time to Simi school campuses as part of the canines' police-dog training.

Since the issue was first discussed in February, trustees have faced ongoing opposition from some students who believe bringing the dogs on campus violates their constitutional rights.

During a school board meeting in February, several high school and junior high school students said the program would compromise their right to privacy.

At an assembly at Sequoia Junior High School weeks before the first search, K-9 officers faced a heated discussion of constitutional rights when students told authorities how the dogs would violate their right to privacy.

Barry said she understands the students' concerns.

``But I still say, if (students) don't have drugs, they have nothing to worry about,'' she said.

Barry said she may suggest that the school board take the searches one step further, and have the dogs sniff students' backpacks at random.

``I'm sure that I'll have some students objecting to that,'' Barry said. ``I know there's that possibility.''

School officials will discuss the issue during a meeting scheduled for 6:30 p.m. today at Simi Valley City Hall, 2929 Tapo Canyon Road.