CONFISCATION OF STUDENT PROPERTY
Teachers have the right to confiscate and discard notes and other papers of the student if such papers are interfering with the learning process of the classroom. Teachers may confiscate books and other materials from a student if the student is using them in a way which distracts from the learning process. The teachers and administrators may also confiscate any personal property and materials which are deemed inappropriate for the classroom environment or are in violation of school policies. The school reserves the right to search any item brought on campus.
Student Lockers
At the beginning of the school year, a locker is assigned to each student. Students who use an unassigned locker may have the lock removed and the items found inside will become property of Saint Genevieve High School. Lockers are the property of the school and their use is a privilege granted to the student by the school. It is the proper function of school authorities to inspect lockers. Students may not change lockers or use another student's locker without the expressed permission of the Director of Character Formation. Lockers must always be neat and in a usable condition. Students are not to deface lockers in anyway including writing, marking, placing stickers or pictures inside or outside the lockers. Students are held responsible for all damages and defacing of their assigned lockers. No unauthorized locks are permitted on school lockers. New students must purchase locks through the Dean. Student lunches should be properly sealed, but should not be stored in student lockers overnight. Only beverages that are unopened or have spill proof lids are allowed in lockers. Students are responsible for any food or beverages in their assigned locker, including any damages that may result from any leaked food or liquid in their locker. Lockers may be decorated for birthdays and special days with the administrations approval and all items must be removed by the end of the school day or they will be discarded. Only painter's tape should be used for decorating lockers and a minimum of two balloons are allowed for decoration. Students withdrawing from school have three school days to empty their items from the locker or the items found inside will become property of Saint Genevieve High School. Lockers at the end of the year must be cleaned out. Any remaining items such as: locks, books, binders, clothing items, calculators, etc. become property of St. Genevieve High School.
Saint Genevieve High School is not responsible for damaged, lost or stolen property.
School Searches
Students' legitimate expectation of privacy in their person and in the personal effects they bring to school must be balanced against the school's obligation to maintain discipline and provide a safe environment for the school community. School officials may conduct a search of a student's person and personal effects only upon a reasonable suspicion that the search will disclose evidence that the student is violating or has violated the law or a school rule.
If school officials have a reasonable suspicion that the student has violated or is violating the law or a school rule, school officials do not need a warrant or permission from parents/guardians to conduct the search.
A "reasonable suspicion" may be established in many ways, including but not limited to personal observations, information provided by third parties or other students, or tips provided by law enforcement. An alert from a trained and certified detection dog is sufficient to establish a reasonable suspicion and serve as the basis for a warrantless search of the student's person, locker, car, or personal property and effects.
Whenever a school official conducts a search of a student's person or personal effects, an adult witness should be present. The school should notify the student's parents/guardians of any search of a student's person or personal effects.
Expectations of Privacy
A student does not own a locker or other school property. The school makes lockers available to the student. The student does have some expectation of privacy in his or her locker from other students. However, a student does not have a high expectation of privacy in his or her locker from the school and may not prevent school officials from searching the locker if the school official has a reasonable suspicion that the student has violated or is violating a law or school rule.
A student has a greater expectation of privacy regarding his or her person and personal effects. A school official who conducts a search of a student's backpack, purse, clothing, cell phone, or other personal effects must have a reasonable suspicion that the student has violated or is violating a law or school rule. Strip searches or searches that include a student's underwear may only be conducted by law enforcement and may not be conducted by a school official.
Every student is subject to the Acceptable Use and Responsibility Policy for Electronic Communications ("Archdiocesan AUP") and Archdiocese of Los Angeles Privacy Policy of the archdiocese and school; these types of policies concern cell phones and other electronic devices, whether the devices belong to the student or the school.
Student Cooperation
If a student refuses to cooperate in a reasonable search of school or student property (including electronic devices), the school may call the student's parents/guardians and/or the police for assistance or referral.
