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Drug dog impresses
some BOE members
Two private schools already employ
the $300-a-month hound
A drug-sniffing dog made the rounds of a Board of Education committee last week as the first step in a push to gain entry to Hawaii's public schools.
Custer, a golden retriever, has been sniffing for drugs and firearms at Saint Louis High School and the Academy of the Pacific during the last year. His trainer, Whitney White, owner of Interquest Detection Canines of Hawaii, is eager to bring him onto public school campuses.
"Many principals are interested, but they're unable to implement the program before they get approval from the Board of Education," she said Friday. "Primarily, it's a deterrent service."
White, whose franchise is based on Maui, has found a champion in Maui board member Mary Cochran, chairwoman of the Committee on Special Programs. Cochran said she plans to put the issue on her committee's January agenda for discussion and recommendation to the full board.
The policy would allow -- but not force -- schools to hire drug-sniffing dogs, she said. Schools would rely on donations from businesses or community groups to pay for the service, according to Cochran.
Drug-sniffing dogs are seen as a less invasive alternative to mandatory student drug testing, a proposal that fell flat at the Legislature nearly two years ago. Opponents said testing students fails to deter drug use, undermines trust and diverts scarce resources.
The dogs sniff cars, lockers and backpacks for alcohol, illicit drugs or firearms. They do not smell students themselves for fear of violating their privacy. Custer has been making unannounced visits twice a month to the two small private schools, at a cost of $300 a month. Public high schools, which are much larger, would cost more.
Custer appears to have won over some friends last week, but not everyone is a fan.
"It sounds like a good idea," said board member Garrett Toguchi. "The way they do it is nonintrusive. It's not the person that they're sniffing, it's just the property."
The school takes over once the dog signals that a backpack or locker contains contraband. Administrators handle questioning and searching.
"We'd have to be careful how we implement that part of it, making sure there's due process," Toguchi said.
Board member Shannon Ajifu objects to the idea. It is not difficult to identify students who are abusing drugs, she said, and the real challenge is in dealing with the problem.
"We have very few programs available," she said. "I'd really rather see that money go to developing programs for the youngsters, so they can get past the need for drugs."
Her colleague Denise Matsumoto said there are many details to be worked out before such a policy would take effect.
"We need to have guidelines in place so the schools know exactly how far to go with search and seizure, so they don't cross any lines," she said.
White, who opened her business here in 2003, said that the parent company, Interquest Detection Canines, has contracts with schools in 1,100 districts nationally.
The Bush administration has been a strong supporter of testing students for drug use. Earlier this year, the president called for a tenfold increase in money for drug testing in schools, to $23 million a year. The U.S. Supreme Court has upheld the authority of schools to test students for drug use as a condition of participating in extracurricular activities.
