Final answer:
Public school officials can conduct searches in public schools, but they cannot search in constitutionally protected areas within the school.
Step-by-step explanation:
Public school officials are allowed to conduct searches in public schools, but they must adhere to certain restrictions. According to the Supreme Court case, New Jersey v. T.L.O., public school officials can use reasonable suspicion instead of probable cause when conducting searches. However, they are not allowed to search in constitutionally protected areas within the school. These protected areas include personal belongings like bags or lockers where students have a reasonable expectation of privacy.