RAID SETTLEMENT PROPOSED

Stratford High Students, Lawyers Would Share in $1.6 Million
Plan

The controversial drug sweep in 2003 at Stratford High School also
could be a costly one - to the tune of $1.6 million, according to a
plan to settle a class-action lawsuit stemming from the raid.

Under the plan, students in the hallway during the sweep would split
$1.2 million. Their lawyers would divide an additional $400,000.

The agreement also said the Berkeley County School District, Goose
Creek Police Department and other defendants would admit no wrongdoing
but would follow new school search guidelines.

A federal judge in Charleston has scheduled a hearing for today to
review the settlement plan.

If the judge approves it, the agreement would close another chapter in
a drama that generated international headlines and debate about police
tactics in schools.

The raid began the morning of Nov. 5, 2003, when Goose Creek police
burst into a Stratford High hallway packed with more than 100
students. Police said at the time they had information that students
were dealing drugs in the hallway.

Waving guns and shouting, officers ordered students to the floor while
a barking dog sniffed for weapons and drugs. None were found.

The school's surveillance cameras documented what happened that
morning, and images of gun-wielding police officers and cowering
students soon hit the front pages and airwaves.

The raid's aftermath led to the dismissal of the school's longtime
principal, George C. McCrackin, federal and state investigations and
community protests, including one with the Rev. Jesse Jackson.
Meanwhile, some parents and students held rallies to support the principal.

It also led to several lawsuits that eventually were consolidated into
a single class-action claim.

"We're obviously pleased that we've gotten this far," said Duke
Highfield, a lawyer for the school district, declining to discuss the
proposal's details. "We think it's in everyone's best interests, and
we're happy with the effort that's been put into (the
settlement)."

Fritz Jekel, one of several lawyers for the students and their
families, declined to comment, saying the agreement's details were
supposed to be sealed until this afternoon's hearing.

The Post and Courier obtained the settlement's details from documents
posted on the federal court system's Web site.

Under the agreement's terms:

- --Students who were in the hallway that morning, and students who were
brought into the hall and searched, would be eligible for
compensation.

- --These students then would be broken into two groups: Those who filed
lawsuits or sought medical or psychological treatment; and those who
were in the hallway that morning who didn't file a legal claim or seek
treatment.

- --They would share $1,175,000, with an additional $25,000 put into a
medical compensation fund. The amount students and families get
depends on how many decide to participate in the settlement.

- --Eleven attorneys would split $400,000. The lead lawyers were Jekel
and Marlon Kimpson, both of Motley Rice LLC, and Gregg Meyers.

Under the agreement, the defendants admit no wrongdoing but agree to
change policies and undergo training in appropriate search procedures.
The Goose Creek Police Department, for instance, agreed to limit the
use of dogs around students.

The agreement says more hearings will be scheduled this summer to
determine how many students ultimately will be compensated.

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WHO WILL PAY?

Money for the $1.6 million settlement would come from several
insurance companies and the defendants themselves.

$50,000: Berkeley County School District

$500,000: The school district's insurance carrier, Zurich North
America Insurance Co.

$60,000: City of Goose Creek

$990,000: City's insurance carrier, S.C. Municipal Insurance Risk
Financing Fund