BOARD DEFENDS STAFF IN STRIP-SEARCH SUIT

'Reasonable grounds' to call in cops: Spokesman

North York school staff being sued over a strip-search of two students
shouldn't be stained with the same brush as those who recently
strip-searched a gym class, a school board spokesman says.

The principal and two vice-principals of Downsview Secondary School -- along
with the board, Toronto Police and three constables -- are named in a
$250,000 suit.

The lawyer for a 15-year-old and 16-year-old claims the two were
strip-searched, assaulted, threatened and falsely imprisoned at the school
last February.

Earlier this month, two school officials in Kingsville, near Windsor, were
suspended and transferred for conducting a strip search of 19 Grade 9 boys
after $90 went missing.

"This is not that kind of act," said board spokesman Ross Parry. "That's
improper."

In the Downsview case, school officials detained the students until police
arrived.

"They had reasonable ground to believe there was a crime being committed,"
Parry said. "They called police and allowed them to take over the
investigation."

According to the statement of claim, the 15-year-old alleged he had his
genitals observed and touched by a police officer in the presence of a
female vice-principal.

Parry said the vice-principal in question, Nancy White, wasn't even in the
room.

"She has stated that is completely false," he said. "I think it's
unfortunate someone can just make this claim and it gets printed."

The police board also denies any wrongdoing in its legal statement of
defence. Police lawyer Andrew Stikuts states the police were called to the
school after a student saw several other students rolling marijuana joints.

Eight students were taken to the front office until two police constables
arrived.

"The suspect plaintiffs were informed they were under arrest and were asked
whether they had any objection to being searched," stated Stikuts. "Neither
raised any objection."

No drugs were found and no charges were laid. However, several students were
suspended for up to two weeks, said Parry.

Checked-by: Don Beck