Pubdate: Wed, 15 Oct 2003 Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution (GA) f30bae0d900ef.html Copyright: 2003 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Contact: http://www.accessatlanta.com/ajc/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/28 Author: Jen Sansbury DEKALB EDUCATOR PUT ON PROBATION Four female students strip-searched An assistant principal of Dunwoody High School has been reassigned and a DeKalb County School System police officer is under investigation for the partial strip-searches of four female students two weeks ago. The "school resource officer," or SRO, believed he had seen two of the girls passing marijuana, said Bob Moseley, the DeKalb County area administrator who oversees the school. The students were taken to Assistant Principal Linda Bobo's office individually to be searched. "She looked through my bag," said one of the girls who was searched. "I dumped it out, and she like was smelling my makeup and stuff. Then she says take off your shirt." She said Bobo patted her back, checked her pants pockets, and asked her to lift the bands of her bra and underwear to show she wasn't hiding anything. "It was real embarrassing," the girl said. She said she didn't tell her mother for two days because she didn't know how to bring it up. The student's mother said she has never been contacted by any school officials about the search, which took place Sept. 30. "They're just sweeping it under the rug because I've never received any communication about this incident at all," the mother said. "[My daughter] wasn't naked, but it sounded pretty invasive." District officials said the school's principal did not know the searches were being conducted. Moseley was informed on Oct. 1 and temporarily reassigned the assistant principal to his office. Bobo, who had been at the school for several years, will get a letter of reprimand. She was put on probationary status for a year, will be required to attend staff development training, and was transferred to the school system's Open Campus High School as of Monday. "It was poor judgment on the assistant principal's part," Moseley said. The officer also has been removed from the campus while his role is investigated. Moseley said it appears the officer told the administrator to conduct the searches. "The SRO directed her and she was under the impression that she could be directed by an SRO to do that," Moseley said. Moseley said nothing was found on the girls or in their possession. He said a marijuana cigarette was later found in the parking lot near where the students had been and that two of the girls were arrested and charged with distribution of marijuana. He said he could not recall any similar incidents in the school system. "The only circumstance under which that would have been appropriate would be if there was an immediate threat to life," Moseley said. - --- MAP posted-by: Josh