The Madison School Board has approved the use of drug-sniffing dogs in schools. Luis Yudice, safety coordinator for Madison Metropolitan Schools, said the move is necessary because of an increase in drugs in Madison schools. “We believe that it’s time for us to introduce this program, simply as a deterrent, to keep out schools safe and drug-free,” he said. “I think that most people agree that allowing the use or trafficking of drugs in our schools is not a safe thing to do.”
Yudice said the dogs will not be used all that often. “We’re talking at most two to three times per semester in a typical high school, to provide students with an excuse, with a reason not to bring drugs to school,” he said. The Madison Police Department will cover the cost of the canine searches, which will be done while students are in class. The board’s vote Monday night was 5-1 in favor of the plan.
John Colbert, WIBA
