WILLIAMSBURG SCHOOL BOARD HEARS COMPLAINTS ABOUT DRUG SEARCH
OF STUDENTS

KINGSTREE - Community members filled the Williamsburg County School
District board/staff development meeting room during a regular meeting
Monday to voice their concerns about several items including an
incident where a Kingstree bus driver took her students to the
Williamsburg County Detention center and had police search them for
drugs.

During public participation Jeff Mayers, a parent of a 12-year-old who
was on the bus, discussed the incident that occurred April 16, where a
Kingstree bus driver took her students to the Williamsburg County
Detention Center and had police search them for drugs before
completing her route. "Our kids' rights were violated," Mayers said.
"I don't think it's right to treat kids this way. I think they went
too far. There's nothing stated in the handbook that the school can
take my kid to a local jail." "We're outraged. Students feel
uncomfortable about the situation," he said. "We're not going to let
them sweep this under the rug." Mayers said he was told by students
involved in the incident that the driver told police she smelled
marijuana on the bus. Students were taken off the bus and told to open
their bookbags, purses and pockets. Mayers said about 40 students
between the ages of 11 and 17 were "patted down" by male officers,
which made some female students uncomfortable. According to WCSC Live
5 News, Kingstree Police Chief Robert Ford says the search was legal
because the driver smelled drugs, which gave them probable cause to
search the bus. "The bus driver, because of what was happening on the
bus, did what she felt was in the best interest of the safety of all
the children on that bus," Williamsburg County School District
Superintendent Ralph Fennell said.

Fennell said officers found a cigar, some cigarettes, lighters, a
knife and some marijuana.

He said he would respond to questions raised in the meeting within 10
business days.

In other business, the board approved several items including second
reading of several board policies; updating the district's board
policy manual; and the 2007 summer work schedule.

The board received information on items, including a request for a
waiver from the state Board of Education on the use of Education
Improvement Act Building Fund money to be used for school
improvements. The board had an executive session to discuss a
personnel issue. The board approved the resignation of an Reserve
Officer Training Corps' teacher and the administration's
recommendation to hire several teachers.