Geneva reserves the right to conduct searches when the school has reasonable suspicion to believe that a search will uncover evidence of work-related misconduct. The School may search the employee, the employee’s personal items, work areas, lockers, and private vehicles parked on School premises or worksites or used in School business. Searches that reveal a violation of the school’s standards of conduct may result in disciplinary action. Additionally, failure to comply with a directive to allow a search of the employee’s personal property will be considered insubordination and will be immediate grounds for termination.
The School has the right to monitor or examine any electronic device at the school or at any school-sanctioned activity. The school may monitor or examine any postings on the internet or other electronic medium which includes but is not limited to text messages and postings on personal web sites, social networking sites, such as Facebook or Instagram or other private or public domains. Such monitoring includes, but is not limited to, all verbiage, pictures, depictions, graphics and videos. Employees are responsible for and may be subject to disciplinary action for inappropriate material sent, posted, made available, shown to others, or possessed by the employee.
The School maintains the right to search any employee at any time, or to search an employee’s technology/electronic devices, book bag, backpack, purse, desk, locker, filing cabinet, car, etc. or any personal belonging brought on School premises. There is no expectation of privacy for any School-owned property, including but not limited to electronic devices, desks and filing cabinets. Employees may not lock school-owned property with personal locks. Instructional rooms and areas of employee use are school property and remain at all times under the control of the school; however, employees are expected to assume full responsibility for the security and condition of their own work areas. Periodic general inspections of rooms and other areas of the school may be conducted by school authorities for any reason, at any time, without notice, without employee consent, and without a search warrant.
Employees are permitted to park on School premises as a matter of privilege, not of right. The School retains authority to conduct routine patrols of School parking lots and inspections of the exteriors of employee automobiles on School property. Vehicles parked on School property belonging to employees may be searched, if there is reasonable suspicion to believe that they contain illegal or unauthorized articles or materials inside the vehicle. Employees shall be responsible for any prohibited items found in their classrooms or in vehicles parked on School property. If a vehicle subject to search is locked, the employee shall be asked to unlock the vehicle. If the employee refuses to permit a search of the vehicle, the school may turn the matter over to local law enforcement officials.
An employee’s failure to permit searches and seizures as provided in this policy will be considered grounds for disciplinary action up to and including termination. If a properly conducted search yields illegal or contraband materials, such findings may be turned over to proper legal authorities for ultimate disposition.
Unless specifically authorized by the HOS or Assistant HOS, or unless student safety is at risk employees are not/ authorized to conduct searches of student’s or another employee’s personal belongings, including electronic devices, or of the physical person of students or another employee. If an employee believes that a search is needed, they should immediately consult with the HOS or Assistant Head of School. Strip and intrusive searches of a student or an employee are not authorized or allowed. Only Administration appointed individuals are authorized to conduct a search of an employee’s or student’s person or personal belongings, including electronic devices.