Police Dogs Could Search for Drugs Inside Pleasanton Schools

School officials will discuss at tonight's meeting whether to allow police-trained dogs to search for drugs inside Pleasanton schools.

A plan calls for periodic searches of parking lots and locker rooms — but only when students are not present.

Drug- and alcohol-related suspensions have almost doubled since 2006, according to a staff report. During the 2006-07 school year, there were 58 drug- or alcohol-related suspensions. In 2007-08, there were 59; in 2008-09, there were 70; in 2009-10, there were 96 and in 2010-11, there were 98.

So far in 2011-12, there have been 63 suspensions, compared with 45 at this time last year.

There have been parent and student meetings at Amador Valley, Foothill and Village high schools on the topic.

High School principals, school resource officers and other local leaders will be at the meeting and available for questions.

The school board meeting will take place at 7 p.m. inside the District Office Board Room, 4665 Bernal Avenue.