Board approves canine detection walks after debate over profiling safeguards

The Monrovia Unified School District board approved an agreement to continue canine detection walks at district campuses after staff described protocols designed to avoid targeting students and emphasized restorative follow-up when alerts occur.

Director of student support services Dr. Tani Cabeza told the board the canine walks are intended as a safety layer — not a punitive tool — and that the program follows district board policy: dogs are not used to sniff students and the walks are structured to be random. She presented alert counts by site and year showing low and, in some cases, decreasing alerts.

Board member Lockerbie pressed staff on how the district would prevent profiling, citing concerns from families. Dr. Cabeza and staff pledged training over the summer and said administrators and district staff would accompany walks next year to ensure the vendor follows the district’s protocols and that classrooms are not preselected.

Monrovia High School representative Dr. Matthew Rainwater, asked to comment, said in his experience there was no profiling at his school and stressed protecting students’ rights and perceptions as an important consideration.

Trustees voted to approve the agreement by roll call; Board members Hammond, Lockerbie and President Trivante all voted yes (motion carries 3–0). Staff said suspension is not the first response to an alert; interventions such as counseling and parent conferences are the primary follow-up actions.