In-Depth: Trends in Prohibited and Dangerous Items in Coachella Valley Schools

Contraband in schools.  From prohibited substances to dangerous items – this issue poses significant risks to both students and staff.

“We’re seeing a reduction in students bringing things to school that they shouldn’t bring,” said Laura Meusel, executive director for student services for the Palm Springs Unified School District.

Meusel said every school in the state defines dangerous objects using the education code and the list of banned items is long.

“A handgun, imitation firearms, knives, dirks, daggers, brass knuckles, laser pointers, fireworks, ice picks, and things like that,” Meusel said.

Consequences of bringing any of these to school vary, from confiscation to a call home and up to suspension.

“Over the last years, what are some of the top items that teachers and staff are confiscating?" News Channel 3's Jennifer Franco asked Meusel.

“The number one item that gets reported to us would be knives," Meusel answered.

Pictures shared with News Channel 3 by PSUSD show what some of those confiscated knives look like. Other prohibited items that have been seized – playing cards, scissors… matches, lighters, and cigarettes/ vapes.

It's not so different at the Coachella Valley Unified School District.

“As far as dangerous items, what is that looking like?" Jennifer asked Gustavo Paiz, CVUSD's director of safety and security.

Paiz answered, “So vape pens continue to be the primary paraphernalia that we come across.”

Paiz and Julisa Hernandez, CVUSD's director of student support services, work closely to prevent banned items from coming in. but when they do...

"There will be communication and there will also be services offered with our intervention specialists, which are counselors which help support our families,” Hernandez said.

Schools are required by law to report when students bring dangerous objects to campus. Incidents are tracked through suspensions under the education code.

So which direction are the figures trending at the Desert Sands Unified School District?

“It's not increasing,” said Laura Fisher, DSUSD's assistant superintendent of student support services.

Fisher says each case is different and not always intentional.

“We certainly have times, particularly in elementary, which doesn’t happen often. In elementary usually, it's something that the child had no idea,” Fisher said.

We requested data from each district to see what the numbers look like.

DSUSD reported a more than 32% decrease in dangerous objects being brought to school over the past two years. and drug violations fell by roughly 22%.

PSUSD saw a decrease – with 41 suspensions last school year, compared to 65 the previous year. There were also less drug violations reported – with 341 last year compared to 625 in the 2022-23 school year.

CVUSD reported 573 dangerous and prohibited items last school year – nearly all were vapes, with toy guns and alcohol rounding out the top three.

You might be wondering what you as a parent can do to help keep your child and others at school safe. Officials suggest that a simple backpack check before they head out the door can make a big difference.

What about any changes coming to the districts in the new school year? DSUSD is improving its anonymous reporting system.

“Sometimes students don’t feel comfortable either informing a trusted adult at school and in the anonymous reporting we get a lot," Fisher said.

It's part of a commitment all three districts have to keep our students safe.