Great Valley High School and Middle School went into lockdown Thursday morning as drug-sniffing police dogs roamed the hallways, checking lockers.
According to Dan Goffredo, Assistant Superintendent for Secondary Education and Pupil Services, the search was scheduled in advance and the dogs did not find anything illicit.
"We've used state police for the last few years to come in and do inspections in the high school and middle school. They did both buildings today," said Goffredo, who was the high school principal until this school year.
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The searches take roughly 20 to 30 minutes per building, as multiple German shepherds search lockers and athletic locker rooms. During that time, students and teachers stay in rooms and out of the hallways.
Goffredo would not disclose the specific details of the searches, but he did say that the dogs are trained to recognize multiple substances and the searches occur more than once per year.
I like the random search to be honest. It's still random even if you notify me afterwards that it happened, and more importantly why.
Great Valley has always been responsible in notifying families when dealing with (emergencies) such as dealing with bomb scares. This was nothing more than an in house search, which if you take the time to actually read the hand book you know are randomly conducted. It is always amazing to me how quickly some in our community are willing to criticize rather than take personal responsibility for not doing things like reading the student handbook. Seriously people, if you have a question pick up the phone or send an email. If you have a suggestion or feel that parents should be notified after a lock down for a random search go to a school board meeting and request that that communication be added to the school messenger. And for heavens sake, if your dropping your kid off and you feel nervous about State police cars sitting at the school, park the car and walk into the office with your child and ask questions.
It is in the Handbook, so people are notified at the beginning of the year it will happen, and I think that's enough. I don't even think teachers should be notified. It should be secret so they catch them off guard.
Our kids education should be one of this nations highest priorities. Well informed and involved parents are a critical ensuring success. You point is well taken.