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School board approves yearlong contract for independent K-9 safety searches
Summary
The Tangipahoa Parish School Board approved a one-year contract with ASAP Team for K-9 drug and explosive detection visits to schools, authorizing 24 visits beginning in April and clarifying response procedures if contraband is found.
The Tangipahoa Parish School Board voted unanimously March 18 to approve an independent-contractor agreement with ASAP Team to provide K-9 detection visits at district schools.
Board members authorized 24 visits over a 12-month period beginning April 1, comprising 20 random visits and four additional dates that may be used as needed. The contract sets the per-visit fee at $1,100; 24 visits at that rate total $26,400. The contract term was described as April to April.
Administration described the visits as full-day deployments so more than one school may be searched during a visit. The board heard that two types of canine teams are available: dogs trained to detect drugs and a separate set trained to detect firearms and explosives. If the contracted K-9 team locates a substance, the administration said the response pathway is to the school administration and the campus SRO (school resource officer).
Attorney Andre Kudren reviewed the agreement and recommended changes that were incorporated into the final contract, administration said. Board member Anthony moved to approve the agreement; Piazza seconded. With no further public comment, the board opened and closed voting and the motion passed unanimously.
The contract includes an option to return to the board to adjust the number of visits in future years, administration said. Board members noted scheduling will be coordinated with site principals to ensure principals know when a K-9 team is arriving even during “random” deployments.
Board members said the district intends to prioritize drug-detection dogs but retains the option to use firearms/explosives teams if operational needs arise. No additional budget line or funding source was specified in the board discussion.
The board did not take additional action about internal reporting requirements beyond the procedural statement that administration and the campus SRO would handle incidents discovered during searches.
