Drug-sniffing dogs will be on patrol at high school campuses in the Santa Maria Valley, starting next school year.

At the police department's request, the Santa Maria Joint Union High School District board of trustees gave the green light Wednesday night for the use of drug-sniffing dogs next school year on the district's campuses.

The exact guidelines for the searches still need to be ironed out between Police Chief Dan Macagni and Superintendent Jeff Hearn before the beginning of the 2007-08 school year.

The dogs will not search students, but instead will sniff school property such as lockers, Hearn said. Parents will be notified at the beginning of the school year that the searches will take place, he added.

Macagni said he brought the matter before the board due to the police narcotics group's concern about the presence of drugs on school campuses.

He cited Pioneer Valley High School as having 63 cases of marijuana-related arrests last year.

Macagni said the searches will be pre-arranged with high school principals so that they'll know in advance when narcotics searches will take place. He said the searches won't occur more than twice a year.

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He added the use of the drug-sniffing dogs will enhance the overall student safety and reduce the amount of narcotics on campuses.

“If the students know that we're bringing the dogs, they will think twice before bringing narcotics on campus,” Macagni said.

In other business, the faulty heating system inside Righetti High School's administration building was also discussed.

Reese Thompson, facilities and operations director, said the district plans to install a new heater this weekend to replace the one that has given out. The heating system in the building dates back to the early 1960s - when the campus opened.

He said staff in the building have been working in frigid conditions since they came back from Christmas break.

The heating ducts have been blowing dirt, dead insects and other particles that have landed on worker's desks and have caused health problems, speakers said.

Also Wednesday night, the board awarded a $70,400 bid to Fresno-area contractor Valley Carports for a lunch shelter canopy to be built at Pioneer Valley High School.

“The students will be able to eat lunch in a covered area, protecting them from the rain, wind and hot sun,” said Jack Garvin, board president.

Complete installation of the canopy is scheduled for spring break, according to the board's agenda.

The board also scheduled a special meeting for 5:30 p.m. March 7 to discuss the construction and modernization projects at Righetti High School, which include the installation of brand new heating and air conditioning units in the administration building, permanent classrooms and a pool.

Hearn said the special meeting will address the Righetti administration building's problems and where upgrades will be “sequenced” in the list of improvements planned for the campus.

Kimberlina Rocha can be reached at 739-2216 or krocha@santamariatimes.com.

Feb. 15, 2007