The drama that happened while AC was down.

[Leopardess]

I'll copy/paste from when I wrote it at another forum:

This is so wrong. I can't believe this even was allowed to happen. Get this:

Awhile back, my sister's high school stopped allowing backpacks or purses of any kind. This made it hard for her to bring her books and any feminine-type things she needed to carry with her. The whole school was pretty upset and my sister helped to stage a walkout protest that attracted dozens and dozens of kids, and this made local and state news. She was one of only a couple who were suspended for doing this. (The principal had come down to personally tell them no one would be suspended...then the assistant principal came down and suspended her.)

Flip forward a month or two. The guy who suspended her had it out for her since then. He called her into his office one day and told her he suspected she had drugs on her. He searched her (ILLEGALLY) in his office, by himself. He did not bother to call the female nurse (who handles searches) or the female police officer that is always in school. Well, big surprise - he found nothing. My sister was mortified and was crying and had to go home. Now, because he didn't FULLY search her - thank god - he now says he always suspected she was hiding the drugs in her bra!! Of course, if that was his suspicion, he either didn't do his job by fully checking, or he did nothing to clear her of the suspicion.

Last Thursday, my sis had to go to the hospital again (she has chronic bronchitis and asthma) and got an inhaler and some medicine with codeine. She did not bring either of these to school with her.

Friday, she was called into the same assistant principal's office because she had "been seen using the bathroom too much; it was suspicious. She must have drugs on her. In fact, we think she is SELLING speed!!!" She was with another girl in the bathroom between classes, and that girl was let go with no office visit.

They searched my sister - and again found nothing! They said she must be under the influence so they tested her bloodpressure and pulse. Both were elevated. Um DUH. She's on medicine that does that and she's scared out of her mind! Plus, the guy intimidates her and was standing with her in the nurse's office during this!! They then gave her the "follow the pen with your eye" test. Which they said she did "incorrrectly."

Do you know what they did?!

They suspended her for five days and after taht she was expelled until she passed a drug test!!

Mind you they found NOTHING. Nothing ON her, nothing in her stuff. Nothing in the bathroom where this supposedly happened. Nothing. They were told she was taking medication that the dr. SAID elevated pulse and blood pressure anyway. She couldn't do the eye test because she was crying hysterically and coudn't catch her breath (from the asthma).

She received a letter saying she had violated the school's drug policy!!!

My parents had to miss three days of work to stay with her and take her to the hospital for tests. The drug test cost 300$!

So, the test results were .....drum roll please....NEGATIVE. For everything.

Mind you the week she was suspended, this week, was midterms. She missed them and is now failing every class she has and her teachers and friends think she was FOUND SELLING DRUGS, because she was suspended.

My mother in law works in the shcool as an administrative assistant and said she'd never heard anything like it.

My parents went down to the school with the results and the principal defended their actions! On what grounds I have no clue. My parents had to fight to get even an apology (they still have to pay for the tests and missed work) and they're still not sure if they'll allow her to make up midterms.

This has GOT to be illegal. I can't even believe they can do this. It makes me sick.

***
So, since then, my parents finally got the principal to admit to allowing her any resource she needs to make up midterms, to give her an apology, and to remove the suspension from her record. I would likely have not stopped there, but whatever.

Pretty sure I missed the section in my Educational Structure and Law classes where you could be punished on the sole ground of suspicion!

[TheMightyQueenPixie]

UFR- Id have my lawyer down there faster then you could say "litigate"...Tell her to stick to her guns...idiots...

[Leopardess]

Yah me too. My parents were uber pissed but didn't want to get legally involved unless they refused to apologize and let her make up her work. I'm not a sue-happy person at all, but I'd be calling the lawyer for sure.

My dad was initially out for that guy's job but has since backed down...He said he was also afraid to make things worse for her/them because they live in a very small town and the story would seriously make the cover of the newspaper everyday for four months.

[Emg]

I'd get a lawyer....AND...I'd get in touch with local news networks and see if anyone would be interested in covering the process....SERIOUS rights violations here !!

ESPECIALLY the searching her in his office with no one else present !!!! HELLO !!

HER future record is at stake here folks.....all that will be in her school records..what do you think will happen when she goes to get a job and they read about THAT !!! ??? I don't think I would worry so much about the small town thing, I live in a small town, always have.........you have to stand up for your rights and not worry about what other people are going to say.

[Leopardess]

Well Emg, it was stricken from her record. That went with the 3 things my parents demanded (the other two were the apology and making up her tests).

It's pretty egregious. I can't tell them what to do though.

[nursie]

I'd be putting in some time at some school board meetings. We had some crap like this going on at school,. and the parents of the kids involved gathered togehter parents that they knew the adm would listen to to come back them at board meetings,. I was one that was asked to go..I was president of the band parents at the time. You pack a board room with people like that and they will listen. And get an attorney.

[reiverix]

Sounds like the school is acting like some bigshot corporation. I think the principal may fail a power trip test.

[stingray4540]

Even if your parents get what they asked for, sue the asses!!! They could at least get the 300 dollars for the drug test back, plus a whole lot more! I'm not much for sueing people, but I hate the ****ing public school system and wouldn't hessitate to take them for everything they are worth. At the very least, demand the 300 dollars for the drug test back from the school along with the other 3 requests.

[hobie237]

While its worth trying a lawsuit, the courts (including the supreme court) have generally upheld the fact that basic rights and protections (search and seizure in this case) do not apply when in public schools. The case is especially weak since its removed from her record. I was nearly arrested twice in my school, and I was a good student! I guess I just spoke out a bit too much about the wasted money, the extensive vacations for administrators, that sort of thing. Anyways, good luck.

[macphoto]

"Zero tolerance" gone horribly wrong.

--Mike

[msouth468]

Four words...

Super glue door locks...

If she can't go to school nobody can. I had the same instace happen with a friend of mine. I won't go into detail, but lets just say he was having the "relations" with the princ. daughter. 4 drug searches and 6 suspensions later the school locks had to be drilled and replaced before anyone could get in. Best 3 days I ever had back in high school...

[Dangerdoll]

Holy smokes the nightmare, Leo!!! I understand when you say you're no sue-happy person but this screams litigation!! Ok, your parents got the 3 things they demanded but what about the mental torment your sister was going through. I'm surprised this guy is stil allowed to keep his office let alone be able to be in the school system. If nothing else, it should be brought back to the news...

[Native American]

Four words...

Super glue door locks...

If she can't go to school nobody can. I had the same instace happen with a friend of mine. I won't go into detail, but lets just say he was having the "relations" with the princ. daughter. 4 drug searches and 6 suspensions later the school locks had to be drilled and replaced before anyone could get in. Best 3 days I ever had back in high school...

You are incredibly restrained in your actions. The low-life who is the topic of this thread would not be standing vertically if my children or any friends' children were his own personal target.

Just leave your imagination to what I would, could, and can do...with a lot of help from equally motivated and skilled people.

And Americans wonder why public our school systems have gone to hell, why more people are home-schooling or racing to private schools, and why we feel that education vouchers as a form of tax relief are necessary.

v/r, N-A

[TKOS]

That is way too much power and the fact is if it happened to her it could happen to any student and some parents might not bother to fight back. I hate the sue happy world we live in but it is times like that where justice should be served.

I don't remeber blood pressure tests being suitable as drug tests, I mean my blood pressure is different than other peoples and I know that if I walk briskly before giving blood I have to wait until my pressure drops.

That truely sucks when a person in power lets that power go to their head.

[slipknottin]

Ah I would love to have gotten in a situation like that. What better way to make my millions than sue some idiot power hungry administrators.

[msouth468]

Well, our public school systems haven't gone to hell. It is just one of those "back in my day" issues.

But as for the topic at hand, legal pursuit is the only way to go.

[merky161]

Yes, courts have ruled that school personnel can search on suspicion,but there limited to baggage, bookbags ect that students bring to school, also it includes school property which would be lockers. However, when searching a person, the fourth admendment rule still applies. Searching a female student without no other person = No No! I don't know what the laws are governing juveniles are in your area, but I can tell you as a police officer, I would not search a juvenile (female) by myself, a female officer is appropriate. Also, parents must be notified immediately! IMHO, a civil rights violation has occured.

[slipknottin]

Yes, courts have ruled that school personnel can search on suspicion,but there limited to baggage, bookbags ect that students bring to school, also it includes school property which would be lockers. However, when searching a person, the fourth admendment rule still applies. Searching a female student without no other person = No No! I don't know what the laws are governing juveniles are in your area, but I can tell you as a police officer, I would not search a juvenile (female) by myself, a female officer is appropriate. Also, parents must be notified immediately! IMHO, a civil rights violation has occured.

I agree. Suspension without proven grounds for suspension is a violation as well.

[nursie]

School administrative officials are answerable to the school board for their actions. Take your complaints to them. Take an attorney with you. That will get their attention. Some places require you have to be put on the agenda proir to the meeting. Call the superintendants office and ask. Even if they removed it from your sisters records those people that did it can do it to her again or to someone else. MAybe they have....an irate group at school board meetings is a great attention getter.

[hurricanejedi]

I didn't read everyones responses but your parents really should sue them. Your sister could be the first of many. My boss sued the school system when they weren't teaching subjects correctly (our public schools aren't that great). This is a lot more offensive and has prevented her from getting the proper education she deserved, that is legally her right. Very upsetting situation.

[themadblimper]

Sadly, a legal pursuit will just wind up in tax payers paying the wrongs done by the *******. It is very upsetting, and the least you could do is petition to remove the man from the school board and take away his job. You should be entitled to the $300 spent on the drug test, which was completely unjustified.

If my dad found my sister alone with a man far older than she is alone, in the same room, with the doors shut, with him "searching" her (illegaly), that man would have several .45 caliber holes riddled throughout his torso.

I'm sorry to hear about this, and I hope that they can straighten it out.

[TheMightyQueenPixie]

Wow! Sure are alot of changes since I was a kid... As far as I know, you still cant search a kid in Canada..You can search a locker (because it is owned by the school, not the kid) but not them physically...The cops wont even touch it without good cause ie. a credible witness seeing them conceal drugs or weapons on their persons...Same goes for bags or purses..

No way, no how should an adult man in a postition of authority EVER have physical contact with a minor female child behind closed doors...At the very least he has just committed suicide career wise...

I feel terrible for your sister, it must of been a very horrifying ordeal. If it was my kid I would be the Boards worst nighmare...If the school wanted to make a big deal out of it and splash your sisters face all over the paper, MAKE A BIG DEAL OF IT...Let them know what is happening at that school.

[Harlock]

Yes, courts have ruled that school personnel can search on suspicion,but there limited to baggage, bookbags ect that students bring to school, also it includes school property which would be lockers. However, when searching a person, the fourth admendment rule still applies. Searching a female student without no other person = No No! I don't know what the laws are governing juveniles are in your area, but I can tell you as a police officer, I would not search a juvenile (female) by myself, a female officer is appropriate. Also, parents must be notified immediately! IMHO, a civil rights violation has occured.
I totally agree that this may well be a civil rights violation, especially if the person was a minor.

Leopardess, I know your parents don't want any more trouble, but this is seriously wrong. And, as much as it pains me to say this, the ACLU may actually be a nice, strong ally in something like this. If your parents and or sister do decide to follow this further, www.aclu.org is their website. Best of luck to you and your sister. Oh, one more thing: if this happens to one student, don't you think it could be happening to more? Maybe speaking and acting now can help someone else. Food for thought.

[Harlock]

Sadly, a legal pursuit will just wind up in tax payers paying the wrongs done by the *******. It is very upsetting, and the least you could do is petition to remove the man from the school board and take away his job. You should be entitled to the $300 spent on the drug test, which was completely unjustified.

If my dad found my sister alone with a man far older than she is alone, in the same room, with the doors shut, with him "searching" her (illegaly), that man would have several .45 caliber holes riddled throughout his torso.

I'm sorry to hear about this, and I hope that they can straighten it out.
This may be a criminal offense and not civil and therefore the taxpayers may not get screwed at all. Civil Rights violations are criminal matters; Leo's family does not have to sue.

[FreddytheFish]

:thud: :thud:

Sue.

[Watcher74]

I'm a tax payer and would have no problem with some of the money I pay in taxes going to fight this. I have two daughters (1 & 2 years old). If this happened to them I would be in jail and that man would be in intensive care.

Well, I would plan it out very thoroughly to try and keep from getting caught. But I would still put him in the hospital for a couple months at least.

[pl*co]

...So, since then, my parents finally got the principal to admit to allowing her any resource she needs to make up midterms, to give her an apology, and to remove the suspension from her record. I would likely have not stopped there, but whatever.

How 'bout they get him to agree to keep his dam hands off her or they'll sue his a_ _ !! That B.S. about the search (just what gives him the right anyway???), especially without a female present... is just that... b.s.!!! I hope your parents call a lawyer. How many other female students has he done this to? He needs to be run out of there and has no right being in a position of authority.

[Nippy]

I don't know about anyone else, but, forget the drug suspicion, this screams sexual harrassment of a minor to me. Does he indeed, search other girls and does he only search girls? Frickin' perv.

[Holly9937]

Wow Leo, sorry to hear about all that...Keep us updated, I'd like to know if anything else comes of the situation. By the way, how much longer is your sis stuck in this school?

[Lila]

If my daughter came home and told me the assistant principal searched her, in a room with no one else (better be a woman present), my arse would be in the principal's office in no time. And if he did nothing, then I'd be talking to the administrator. If they did nothing, I'd be talking to the press and a lawyer.

Even doctor's offices have to have a nurse present when doing a check up on a female patient. Even in my dentist's office!

I can't imagine the school has any different rights to searches.

As for suing the schools for millions, that comes from the tax payers. I'm not saying don't sue, I think the parents should be reinbursed their test money, but going for a large sum will only hurt the public.

Our schools are dropping programs like dead flies due to lack of funding. And I keep wondering where those billions of dollars from the lottery went.

[imhandy2]

Yah, I'd nail them!! Not a good high school memory for her.

All the best to her,

Terry.

[hobie237]

It would be worth threatening sexual harassment, if not actually going through with it. That would likely make them MUCH more receptive to the other issues.