DISTRICT GETS LITTLE FEEDBACK ON POLICY

Berkeley County Schools Draft New Search Rules After Controversial
Raid During Drug Sweep

CHARLESTON - Although there was a public outcry when officers drew
guns and ordered students to the floor during a drug sweep at
Stratford High School, the local school district has heard little from
the public while drafting a new search policy.

The policy review committee presented new search guidelines to the
Berkeley County School Board earlier this month.

Copies were then sent to district principals, asking them to
distribute them to faculty, student groups and parent-teacher
organizations.

The committee planned to discuss comments during a meeting last week,
but no one but committee members showed up.

"You'd think a lot of people would have something to say about it, but
it is pretty cut and dry," said William Helmly, a telephone company
executive who is co-chairman of the committee. "It really goes now to
how the policy is implemented, not what's in the policy."

Under the proposed changes, school officials must make "a reasonable
attempt" to contact students' parents before any interrogation.

Searches must also be limited to a specific area, only trained and
reliable dogs must be used and there can be no physical contact
between dogs and students.

The Nov. 5 raid drew national attention and was captured on videotape
by surveillance cameras.

During the sweep, which has sparked two federal lawsuits, Goose Creek
police, several with guns drawn, ordered about 100 students to the
floor.

About a dozen students were restrained while a barking police dog
sniffed their backpacks. Officers found no drugs and made no arrests.

The raid led to allegations of excessive force and racism because many
of the students at the school during the early-morning raid were black.

Police have said they felt the tactics were needed to ensure the
safety of the officers and students.

In December, the Rev. Jesse Jackson led hundreds of marchers through
nearby North Charleston in protest.