MO: SPS didn’t violate students’ rights with drug dog search, court rules

Claudette Riley reports:

The Springfield school district didn’t violate students’ Fourth Amendment rights by using a trained dog to sniff for drugs at Central High School, according to a U.S. District court decision.

Alleging an April 22, 2010 search at Central High was an “unreasonable search and seizure,” Councilman Doug Burlison and his wife Mellony brought a lawsuit against Springfield Public Schools and the Greene County Sheriff’s Department. It also named Superintendent Norm Ridder, Central High Principal Ron Snodgrass and Sheriff Jim Arnott.

U.S. District Judge Richard E. Dorr found in favor of the school district and sheriff’s office.