By Riya Chinni
The Carmel Clay Schools board of trustees met Feb. 26 to discuss several new and updated policies, presented by Amy Dudley, assistant superintendent of curriculum, instruction and assessment.
The board discussed updates to the search and seizure policy, which would establish appropriate use of handheld metal detectors. The state of Indiana made them available and recommended them for use last year.
The policy also establishes general guidelines about locker and student searches.
“The only reason a locker would be searched is due to reasonable suspicion,” Dudley said.
For student searches, Dudley said an administrator of the same sex would complete the search.
The board also reviewed a proposed policy concerning therapy dogs, which would allow CCS employees to bring therapy dogs to school if they believe it will enrich students and the dogs are trained and certified as therapy dogs.
Board member Layla Spanenberg said the program will have an overall positive effect on the school district.
“I’m very excited about the program. I know with the culture of care program, it was very well-received,” Spanenberg said. “It has a calming effect for the school.”
Another new policy addresses acceptable social media usage for CCS employees, with guidelines established by Supt. Michael Beresford.
The board plans to take action on the proposed policy updates at a future board meeting.
