Oh, this is deplorable. I wouldn't even let the custodian in to clean except
when you're present to supervise said cleaning. Ask to have your lock
changed and restrict who gets a key.
We had a parallel issue like this many years ago. Students were hired over
the summer to help with building maintenance. You can imagine how much "fun"
they had going through teachers' stuff. I had batteries stolen out of a
little radio I keep in my desk, that kind of thing. Also found some blond
hairs in my curling iron and I'm a brunette. I threw it away; who knows
where that curling iron had been.
Anyway, after that summer they didn't hire kids anymore. People were really
upset. One thing I've also feared is that someone will plant something in my
office. Drugs, booze, porn. There are some drawers I rarely look in; someone
could put a gun or something in one of them and phone and say "Look what's
in the Librarian's desk drawer." I make it a point to check things over once
in awhile such as the pockets of a warm sweater I keep on hand, etc. Call me
paranoid, I know. But how easy it would be to frame someone like this!
Reggie
BOOKS. The original laptops. If Reading was a Varsity Sport, Librarians
would rule the world.
Reggie Buresh / Librarian & Webmaster
Mahtomedi High School
8000 75th St. North
Mahtomedi, MN 55115-1795
USA Phone: 651-407-2157
Fax: 651-407-2125
rburesh@mahtomedi.k12.mn.us
www.mhsmediacenter.homestead.com
-----Original Message-----
From: School Library Media & Network Communications
[mailto:LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU] On Behalf Of Nancy Willard
Sent: Monday, February 27, 2006 11:11 AM
To: LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU
Subject: Re: Violation of office space in attempt to censor
>
> Date: Mon, 27 Feb 2006 08:55:41 -0700
> From: Marian Royal <mroyal@SOCORRO.K12.NM.US>
> Subject: TAR: GEN: Violation of office space in attempt to censor
<snip>
Do teachers in public
> schools have any rights to privacy whatsoever? I know that my superiors
> may come in and look through my belongings, although I find that
> behavior deplorable, but do janitors and other employees have that same
> right? I am getting ready to compose a written complaint to both
> principals to which I will attach relevant sections of the policy
> manual, including the "Citizen's Request for Re-evaluation of Materials"
> form. I will also make a verbal complaint. Anything else I should do.
> Would it be wise at this point to contact ALA? This is such a
> potentially explosive issue, I would greatly welcome your collective
wisdom.
Your district should have specific policies on search and seizure -- which
is the legal term for an employee going through another employee's material.
The legal standard is that the administrator can go through your desk and
personal materials if there is a reasonable suspicion that you have violated
some policy, law, etc. But having materials in your office for review is
certainly not a violation of any policy. And a custodian does not have
authority to conduct a search. A custodian could argue that he or she has a
legal right to be in your office -- but this is only for the purpose of
cleaning, not looking through your stuff.
I would check with your union rep to determine district policies on search
and seizure of staff. If your district does not have clear policies, it
should.
Nancy
--
Nancy Willard, M.S., J.D.
Center for Safe and Responsible Internet Use
http://csriu.org
nwillard@csriu.org
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