Staff Writer

Students at Kennebunk High School are speaking out against school administration and a drug search last week in a very public way on Facebook, a Web site used by millions of people around the world. 

“It’s healthy anytime there is discussion,” said Tom Macisso, a parent of a sophomore at the high school. “The more discussed, the better.”

Two Facebook groups “I survived the KHS drug bust 2010” had more than 60 members and “My school has been searched by dogs for drugs” had more than 300 members within a day after 11 police dogs searched the school.

The dogs and their handlers from York and Cumberland counties searched lockers, backpacks and vehicles for 40 minutes in the first search of its kind at Kennebunk High School.

Principal Peter Dawson, citing privacy concerns, would not say exactly what was found or how many students were caught. He said some marijuana and marijuana-related paraphernalia were found in students’ backpacks on school property.

Both Dawson and RSU 21 Superintendent Andrew Dolloff think the searches went well for the first time, but many students have a different point of view.

Dawson said he arranged the drug searches because he heard from students they did not feel the school was drug free.

Dawson said all students were asked to come to the gym for a brief assembly at 9:45 the morning of the search.

Student Mike Martin said he and other students were told to leave their backpacks in classrooms because the assembly would be short.

Once inside the gym, students were asked not to leave the assembly. Dawson gave a brief overview of the drug search that was taking place outside gym doors.

“Most students were clapping sarcastically,” Martin said. “Most everybody smokes marijuana here, just casually. They smoke Friday and Saturday recreationally. It doesn’t affect their school work.”

Dawson said a “few” students were caught and suspended from school for five days. He refused to be more specific. Suspensions were reduced to three days for students who chose to go to counseling and follow the advice from Day One counselors.

The dogs sniffed lockers, backpacks and cars. If a dog stopped at any point, it was taken back to sniff again.

After a second “hit,” the school personnel had sufficient evidence to search the locker or backpack. Dawson said officers left before any search of a student’s belongings so all punishment could be handled by school administration.

Dawson said if several backpacks were together where one dog stopped, all the backpacks were searched.

If a car was suspected, the license plate was taken down and the student was asked to open the car to be searched. While a few cars were searched, nothing was found except in backpacks inside the school.

Dollof said no charges were filed against students because police were not involved in the actual search for the drugs. The event was considered a training exercise for the law enforcement personnel and was done at no cost to the school.

Many of the Facebook posts were laced with profanity and openly taunted school officials.

 “Hahah yah i still smoked yesrdsay, police didnt stop (expletive), they took a few pieces and a few grams but we got plenty more” said one post. “I LOVE DRUGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! DRUGS 4 LYF,” said another.

The Facebook posters were identified by their names and photos and could be viewed by anyone with a free Facebook account.

One post attributed to a Kennebunk High School student said she was part of the group that was caught with small amounts of marijuana and paraphernalia related to marijuana use.

“Yeah, I got caught... but I’m not going to run around blaming the administration. It’s my own fault for being stupid and lazy and not wanting to empty out my bag and restock when I was going anywhere. This was a good step forward, maybe not handled in the BEST way, but it’s started something. So let’s all just get together and smoke our cares away, yeah? They can’t do anything about it if we’re not at school,” said the post.

Not all who posted on the page were opposed to the raids.

“But khs is considered a public forum, we have no rights to privacy,” said another post. “Lockers are school property and eligible for search. Cars in the parking lot are eligible for search. It’s ... a very simple of matter of not bringing your bud to school. It’s illegal.”

Zacary Heiden, legal director of the Maine Civil Liberties Union, said the organization does not agree with random drug searches in schools and supports students taking a stand in the public forum.

“We generally think it creates a real bad environment for students who will feel criminalized and not trusted,” said Heiden. “We applaud students taking advocacy into their own hands.”

Dawson said the administration had discussed holding a drug search since last year.

“I mentioned it to (the administration) last spring. For me it was the first time I ever thought there was a problem,” Dawson said. “I had to be dragged into (drug searches). It was not something I wanted to do initially.”

Dawson reconsidered his stance after sitting in on an English class where many students asked to compose persuasive essays or letters, wrote to him about their concern for substance abuse in the schools.

“The point of it was they were feeling we needed to do more to deter drug use,” Dawson said.

This year, graduating seniors filled out a survey rating the school in a number of areas including being drug free. Dawson said that for the first time more than 50 percent of seniors said they felt Kennebunk High School administration was not providing a drug-free school.

“It was no surprise to me,” Dawson said.

He said he realized after conversations with students and school staff that while the school had counseling services with Day One, its deterrence and enforcement of drugs on campus might not be adequate.

Dawson consulted Kennebunk Police Chief, Robert MacKenzie, who in turn contacted a K-9 unit coordinator. Dolloff was the only administrator who had participated in a drug search before, when he was the superintendent of Scarborough schools.

Dawson said in the past the school has worked with police to charge students in drug-related incidents and may charge students in the future.

Kennebunkport Police Chief Joseph Bruni, who once worked inside the school as a resource officer, said he agreed with the search.

“There are a few in their dealing drugs and others are speaking out and holding those people accountable,” Bruni said.

Dawson said he had heard from 25 to 30 parents as of Monday who mostly agreed with the administration’s stance.

“Their bottom line was ‘thank you,’” said Dawson. Bruni said as of Friday, the police had received two calls from concerned parents, one in agreement with the search and one adamantly opposed who said it invaded the rights of students.

“I can only go from what Mr. Dawson said.  I was told by him he made every effort to explain to students the school was a drug free-zone,” said Macisso, the parent of a student. 

While Dawson says there are a few more kinks to work out, including e-mailing parents more quickly about the results of searches and allowing bathroom privileges during a search.

“I don’t know if we’ll always do it the same, but it sends a message we don’t want drugs in the school,” Dawson said.

Staff Writer Suzanne Hodgson can be reached at 282-4337, ext. 233.