diff --git a/docker-compose.prod.yml b/docker-compose.prod.yml
index b828ec8..9a468a0 100644
--- a/docker-compose.prod.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.prod.yml
@@ -73,6 +73,8 @@ services:
     build:
       context: .
       dockerfile: docker/postgres.Dockerfile
+    ports:
+      - 5432:5432
     environment:
       POSTGRES_USER: ${POSTGRES_USER}
       POSTGRES_PASSWORD: ${POSTGRES_PASSWORD}
diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml
index d79b2b7..86d9a16 100644
--- a/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.yml
@@ -9,3 +9,6 @@ services:
       POSTGRES_USER: ${POSTGRES_USER}
       POSTGRES_PASSWORD: ${POSTGRES_PASSWORD}
       POSTGRES_DB: ${POSTGRES_DB}
+    volumes:
+      - './database:/var/lib/postgresql/data:z'
+    restart: never
diff --git a/src/app.d.ts b/src/app.d.ts
index 5de50c2..61fd649 100644
--- a/src/app.d.ts
+++ b/src/app.d.ts
@@ -1,11 +1,9 @@
-import type { Database } from '$lib/server/db/connect';
 import type { User } from '$lib/server/db/schema/user';
 import type { Session } from '$lib/server/db/schema/session';
 
 declare global {
 	namespace App {
 		interface Locals {
-			database: Database;
 			user: User | null;
 			session: Session | null;
 		}
diff --git a/src/hooks.server.ts b/src/hooks.server.ts
index 760f480..9468998 100644
--- a/src/hooks.server.ts
+++ b/src/hooks.server.ts
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ export const handle: Handle = async ({ event, resolve }) => {
 	} else {
 		// If session is invalid, delete the session cookie
 		deleteSessionTokenCookie(event);
+
 		// Redirect to the login page after session expiry
 		if (event.url.pathname !== '/login') {
 			return redirect(302, '/login');
diff --git a/src/lib/server/db/connect.ts b/src/lib/server/db/connect.ts
index d50f7ea..9e09ae0 100644
--- a/src/lib/server/db/connect.ts
+++ b/src/lib/server/db/connect.ts
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ import { env } from '$env/dynamic/private';
 import { connectDatabaseWithURL } from './connect_generic';
 
 export type Database = PostgresJsDatabase<Record<string, never>>;
-export type Client = postgres.Sql<{}>;
+export type Client = postgres.Sql<{}>; // eslint-disable-line @typescript-eslint/no-empty-object-type
 
 // Connects to the database using the DATABASE_URL environment variable
 export async function connectDatabase(): Promise<{
diff --git a/src/routes/(dashboard)/+page.server.ts b/src/routes/(dashboard)/+page.server.ts
index 331bd75..3a1a681 100644
--- a/src/routes/(dashboard)/+page.server.ts
+++ b/src/routes/(dashboard)/+page.server.ts
@@ -6,11 +6,10 @@ import { Employee, Student, type Person } from '$lib/types/person';
 import { invalidateSession } from '$lib/server/db/session';
 import { deleteSessionTokenCookie } from '$lib/server/session';
 
-export const load: PageServerLoad = async ({ url }) => {
+export const load: PageServerLoad = async () => {
 	try {
-		const searchQuery = url.searchParams.get('q') ?? undefined;
-		const studentsP = getStudents(1000, 0, searchQuery);
-		const employeesP = getEmployees(1000, 0, searchQuery);
+		const studentsP = getStudents(1000, 0);
+		const employeesP = getEmployees(1000, 0);
 		const students = await studentsP;
 		const employees = await employeesP;
 
@@ -38,7 +37,6 @@ export const load: PageServerLoad = async ({ url }) => {
 		];
 
 		return {
-			searchQuery,
 			persons
 		};
 	} catch (err: unknown) {
@@ -50,6 +48,50 @@ export const load: PageServerLoad = async ({ url }) => {
 };
 
 export const actions: Actions = {
+	search: async ({ request }) => {
+		try {
+			const formData = await request.formData();
+			const searchQuery = formData.get('q')?.toString() ?? undefined;
+
+			const studentsP = getStudents(1000, 0, searchQuery);
+			const employeesP = getEmployees(1000, 0, searchQuery);
+			const students = await studentsP;
+			const employees = await employeesP;
+
+			const persons: Person[] = [
+				...students.map((s) => ({
+					id: s.id,
+					type: Student,
+					identifier: s.index,
+					fname: s.fname,
+					lname: s.lname,
+					department: s.department,
+					building: s.building,
+					state: s.state
+				})),
+				...employees.map((e) => ({
+					id: e.id,
+					type: Employee,
+					identifier: e.email,
+					fname: e.fname,
+					lname: e.lname,
+					department: e.department,
+					building: e.building,
+					state: e.state
+				}))
+			];
+
+			return {
+				searchQuery,
+				persons
+			};
+		} catch (err: unknown) {
+			console.debug(`Failed to search: ${(err as Error).message}`);
+			return fail(500, {
+				message: 'Failed to search'
+			});
+		}
+	},
 	togglestate: async ({ request, locals }) => {
 		try {
 			const formData = await request.formData();
@@ -86,10 +128,14 @@ export const actions: Actions = {
 			} else if (type === Employee) {
 				await toggleEmployeeState(id, building, creator);
 			} else {
-				return fail(400, {
+				return fail(500, {
 					message: 'Invalid type (neither student nor employee)'
 				});
 			}
+
+			return {
+				message: 'Successfully toggled state'
+			};
 		} catch (err: unknown) {
 			console.debug(`Failed to toggle state: ${(err as Error).message}`);
 			return fail(400, {
diff --git a/src/routes/(dashboard)/+page.svelte b/src/routes/(dashboard)/+page.svelte
index 729056c..9bc35d6 100644
--- a/src/routes/(dashboard)/+page.svelte
+++ b/src/routes/(dashboard)/+page.svelte
@@ -5,33 +5,54 @@
 	import Search from 'lucide-svelte/icons/search';
 	import Reset from 'lucide-svelte/icons/list-restart';
 	import DataTable from './data-table.svelte';
+	import { toast } from 'svelte-sonner';
+	import { page } from '$app/stores';
 	import { columns } from './columns';
+	import { enhance } from '$app/forms';
+	import { goto } from '$app/navigation';
 
 	let { data, form: actionData } = $props();
-	const searchQuery = data.searchQuery;
 
-	let searchBox: HTMLFormElement | null;
+	$effect(() => {
+		const msg = actionData?.message;
+		if (msg !== undefined) {
+			if ($page.status === 200) {
+				toast.success(msg);
+			} else {
+				toast.error(msg);
+			}
+		}
+	});
+
+	let searchQuery = $state('');
+	const persons = $derived(actionData?.persons ?? data.persons ?? []);
 </script>
 
 <form
-	action="/"
-	bind:this={searchBox}
-	onreset={() => {
-		searchBox?.submit();
+	method="POST"
+	action="?/search"
+	class="flex gap-2 px-4 py-2"
+	use:enhance={() => {
+		return async ({ update }) => {
+			await update({ reset: false });
+		};
 	}}
 >
-	<div class="flex gap-2 px-4 py-2">
-		<Input id="search" class="max-w-xs" placeholder="Search..." name="q" value={searchQuery} />
-		<Button type="submit" size="icon" class="flex-shrink-0">
-			<Search />
-		</Button>
-		<Button type="reset" variant="destructive" size="icon" class="flex-shrink-0">
-			<Reset />
-		</Button>
-		<p class="my-auto text-rose-600 dark:text-rose-500">{actionData?.message}</p>
-	</div>
+	<Input id="search" class="max-w-xs" placeholder="Search..." name="q" bind:value={searchQuery} />
+	<Button type="submit" size="icon" class="flex-shrink-0">
+		<Search />
+	</Button>
+	<Button
+		onclick={() => goto('/')}
+		type="reset"
+		variant="destructive"
+		size="icon"
+		class="flex-shrink-0"
+	>
+		<Reset />
+	</Button>
 </form>
 <Separator />
 <div class="m-0 sm:m-4">
-	<DataTable data={data.persons ?? []} {columns} />
+	<DataTable data={persons} {columns} />
 </div>
diff --git a/src/routes/(dashboard)/data-table.svelte b/src/routes/(dashboard)/data-table.svelte
index b5e97c0..86e460a 100644
--- a/src/routes/(dashboard)/data-table.svelte
+++ b/src/routes/(dashboard)/data-table.svelte
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-<script lang="ts" generics="TData, TValue">
+<script lang="ts">
 	import {
 		type ColumnDef,
 		getCoreRowModel,
@@ -10,13 +10,14 @@
 	import { createSvelteTable, FlexRender } from '$lib/components/ui/data-table/index.js';
 	import * as Table from '$lib/components/ui/table/index.js';
 	import Button from '$lib/components/ui/button/button.svelte';
+	import type { Person } from '$lib/types/person';
 
-	type DataTableProps<TData, TValue> = {
-		columns: ColumnDef<TData, TValue>[];
-		data: TData[];
+	type DataTableProps<Person> = {
+		columns: ColumnDef<Person>[];
+		data: Person[];
 	};
 
-	let { data, columns }: DataTableProps<TData, TValue> = $props();
+	let { data, columns }: DataTableProps<Person> = $props();
 
 	let pagination = $state<PaginationState>({ pageIndex: 0, pageSize: 10 });
 	let sorting = $state<SortingState>([]);