No drugs found after K-9s search Red Oak High School

RED OAK – Three K-9 units from local law enforcement conducted a search of the Red Oak High School Thursday, covering every locker and car in the parking lot.

No drugs were found and no arrests were made as a result of the search.

Red Oak Superintendent Terry Schmidt said they conduct a drug search at least once if not twice a year and there hasn’t been an arrest in his four years with the district.

“We want the imposition that periodically we are going to search the school unannounced,” Schmidt said when explaining the reason for the search.

Schmidt said he doesn’t have any notions that the search indicates anything beyond the absence of drugs in the lockers and parking lot that day.

This doesn’t mean they aren’t using illegal substances,” Schmidt said. “But it is important that people know we are doing something about this and not burying our heads in the sand.”

Once the search begins, schools are placed on “lockdown” in their classrooms, at which time Schmidt informed the press and other community members about the search.

“Parents can sometimes get a little concerned because their kids get out their phones and text message them that the school is on lockdown,” Schmidt said.

With three dogs, Schmidt said it doesn’t take very long to search the school and the parking lot. Law enforcement are not allowed to search students.

With the dogs coming from  Audobon and the Cass and Mills County Sheriff’s departments, Schmidt said they would be able to conduct  searches more frequently once Red Oak acquires a K-9.

“We really haven’t had access to dogs like we would like,” Schmidt said. “If they (Red Oak Police Department) get one, it would really make this more convenient.”

Schmidt said they are planning additional searches at the Red Oak Middle School and Washington Elementary.

“We are really looking forward to a middle school search coming up, because we have been getting information students are bringing illegal substances to school there.”

Before this search, Schmidt said the only people outside of law enforcement who knew it was going to happen was himself, High School Principal Jed Sherman and Assistant Principal Jeff Spotts.