LOS ANGELES, California -
A California high school vice principal was placed on leave Wednesday
while officials investigate claims that she lifted the skirts of teenage girls
at a dance to make sure they were wearing "appropriate" underwear,
the school said.
Parents at Rancho Bernardo High School in suburban San
Diego say the vice principal, Rita Wilson, made the girls prove that they were
not wearing skimpy thong panties before they were allowed into the dance on
Friday.
"As a parent myself, I certainly understand the
concern these allegations have raised," Poway Unified School District
Superintendent Don Phillips said. "If these allegations prove to be true,
the actions on April 26 were clearly outside our school district's policies and
procedures."
Phillips said the district provides "extensive
training and discussion" for teachers and administrators about respect for
students' rights and proper procedures.
Not only were the girls' underwear checked, in some
cases, said Rancho Bernardo parent Kim Teal, girls also were made to partially
undress if Wilson or another teacher suspected that they weren't wearing bras.
"These girls feel violated," said Teal, whose
daughter Rebecca, a sophomore, was asked about her panties but escaped a search
after telling Wilson that she was
not wearing a thong.
"One girl just cried after having to tell her father this story, she was hiding her head in a
sweatshirt," Teal said.
"After a while the girls finally got the idea that
they shouldn't say 'thong' when they were asked, even though that's all they
wear now," Teal said.
Wilson and Paul Gentle, Rancho Bernardo's principal, were
unavailable for comment Wednesday.
A San Diego
police officer told the San Diego Union-Tribune in an interview that he saw Wilson
force dozens of girls to lift their skirts.
Officer Greg Bisesto said he
heard Wilson ask the girls, "Are you wearing underwear? If so, is it a
thong? ... Then let me check," according to the paper.
Wilson, who was named as one of four assistant principals
in 1997, was placed on leave Wednesday afternoon. She was described by students
as being a strict administrator who is known for enforcing the rules.
May 1, 2002
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