Red Creek (WSYR-TV) - The Red Creek school district says it will work to correct its student search policy after questions were raised about a search performed earlier this month.
The district says 23 high school students were taken off a bus and searched for drugs and tobacco. They were told to remove their coats, take off socks and shoes, empty their pockets and turn over their waistbands.
One student was charged for having a marijuana pipe.
In a statement released Thursday, Red Creek School Superintendent Avid Sholes says "we have reviewed the matter and our review has identified some deficiencies in our practices and procedures for which we apologize to the community and students who were affected."
Red Creek school press release
This statement is in response to the Red Creek High School bus search on April 9, 2009. We have reviewed the matter and our review has identified some deficiencies in our practices and procedures for which we apologize to the community and students who were affected. We will continue to review the matter and will work to correct our practices and procedures relative to student searches.
On the morning of April 9, 2009, 23 Red Creek High School students, who regularly board a school bus headed to the WFL BOCES Williamson Campus, were asked to come off of the bus and back into the Red Creek High School by the School Resource Officer (SRO) and the Dean of Students for the purposes of a drug and tobacco search. The bus did not leave the Red Creek High School grounds.
The decision for the search was based on two prior drug-related arrests involving Red Creek BOCES students, and numerous student reports claiming that drugs and tobacco were being used on the bus.
“Our main focus is to create and maintain a safe, drug-free environment at our schools,” David Sholes, Superintendent of Red Creek Central School said. “We have been working diligently with local law enforcement officials to address this alleged drug and tobacco use issue.”
Three New York State Troopers and school district personnel were involved in the search. Students were asked to remove their coats or outerwear, take off socks and shoes, empty their pockets, and turn over their waistband. No student was asked to take off any additional clothing other than outerwear or shoes and socks. Following the search, the students returned to the bus and were transported to the WFL BOCES Williamson Campus.
The search turned up chewing tobacco, cigarettes, a marijuana pipe, rolling papers, lighters, and over-the-counter pills. Sholes said the student with the marijuana pipe was issued a ticket, but that no other disciplinary action has been taken against the students at this time.
Sholes stated, “I commend the majority of students who are good citizens and abide by school rules.”
April 22, 2009:
Parents express outrage over drug search on school bus
Red Creek (WSYR-TV) - Some parents in the Red Creek school district are unhappy with how the school handled a search for drugs on a school bus.
The search happened April 9. Parents say every high school student on board was singled out, then searched -- regardless of whether they had been implicated for drug use.
The kids were patted down and even asked to remove their socks and shoes.
Some of those upset parents showed up a school board meeting Wednesday night, hoping to address the board about the search. They say the district isn't giving them many answers.
One parent says the search made her daughter feel guilty of something she didn't do.
“She felt very embarrassed and humiliated, and felt that she was violated,” says Diane Forsythe.
The school district and board of education would not comment on the incident. A brief statement was read in the meeting that said the district always has student safety in mind.
