GOOSE CREEK PRINCIPAL LEAVING POST

Leader Embroiled in Controversial Drug Raid Asks to Be Reassigned

Stratford High School's principal is stepping down two months after a
controversial drug raid thrust the Goose Creek school into the
national spotlight.

George McCrackin will be reassigned to a position at the school
district office, not at another school, Berkeley County School
Superintendent Chester Floyd said Monday. McCrackin is taking some
time off before he and Floyd meet to decide how to "best utilize his
experience and talent," Floyd said.

McCrackin also will be helping the district prepare to defend itself
in two lawsuits filed since the Nov. 5 raid caught on tape and shown
repeatedly on national television.

In the lawsuits, students allege police went too far when they entered
the school with weapons drawn and had students, most of whom were
black, lie down in a hallway while officers and drug dogs searched for
contraband.

In another development, a policy review committee is being formed to
examine and recommend changes to school policies or procedures to
prevent a similar incident, Floyd said.

Floyd said the committee, which will report back to him over the next
120 days, will concentrate on four key points:

. Keeping drugs off school campuses

. Keeping students drug free

. Protecting students' rights

. Treating all students fairly.

McCrackin, who has been principal of Stratford High since it opened 20
years ago, told Floyd on Saturday he wanted to be reassigned, Floyd
said. His decision followed weeks of talks with Floyd about the best
way for the school and its 2,700 students to move forward in 2004.

McCrackin decided to leave because he thought it would not only be in
his best interest, but would be better for his family and "his
school," Floyd said.

"Mr. McCrackin has been under a tremendous amount of stress related to
this," said Floyd, who agreed with the decision.

"I didn't want to take a dedicated, loyal employee of 20 years and put
him in a role that would put increased pressure on him."

McCrackin could not be reached for comment Monday.

Floyd announced the change to Stratford faculty and staff during a
meeting Monday morning. The interim principal will be Mildred Brevard,
who retired in 1992 as Stratford's assistant principal. Since 1994,
she has been a part-time discipline hearing officer, Floyd said.
Brevard's decision "to take this on at this time is very honorable,"
he said.

The search for a permanent principal will begin in the
spring.

Sharon Stafford, the mother of a freshman involved in the raid, said
she was ecstatic to hear that McCrackin was leaving his job.

"He needed to. Something should have been done a long time ago. Good
things come to those who wait."

Her son, Carl Alexander, said he would be happier if McCrackin would
leave the school district.

"They need to get rid of him altogether," said the
15-year-old.

Goose Creek police conducted the drug raid at the high school Nov. 5
at McCrackin's request. The principal previously had received
information from students and staff and had watched a videotape
showing what he said was suspicious activity in a school hallway
before classes started.

While meeting with a local television reporter, McCrackin allowed the
reporter to copy the school videotape of the raid. That copy is what
has aired nationally.

S.C. Attorney General Henry McMaster and the U.S. Justice Department
are deciding whether criminal charges should be filed.

The two federal lawsuits, filed last month, seek unspecified damages
and an injunction to stop another such raid.

McCrackin is a good administrator and will do well in whatever job he
tackles next, said Goose Creek Mayor Michael Heitzler.

"He is a very fine man who got caught up in something that was
unfortunate. Whoever takes his place will have big shoes to fill."

Heitzler would not lay blame on McCrackin or Chief of Police Harvey
Becker, who could not be reached for comment late Monday.

Floyd said everyone in the district, including McCrackin, wishes the
incident had never happened.

"I imagine he had envisioned he would end his career at the school,"
he said.