Allentown district prohibits searches of students that expose private parts
Allentown School Board approved a policy last week that prohibits searches of students that involve exposure of the child’s private parts.
The board voted 7-2 Thursday to pass a revision to the district’s overall policy on searches with a section that reads, “Searches of students involving the examination of or exposure of private body parts are prohibited. Administrators may conduct pat down searches of students after removal of jackets, coats or other outerwear only when there is reasonably suspicion that the particular student possesses a weapon, illegal drugs, or other article that could reasonably pose a danger of harm to the student or others.”
The revision of the entire policy, which included rules on searching student lockers, backpacks, phones and other belongings, was approved without discussion Thursday, with school Directors Phoebe Harris and Linda Vega voting no.
District solicitor John Freund made the case for including such a section at a Dec. 3 board committee meeting, saying that without it, school officials are left with no direction on such matters.
“I do believe that it’s important to have a policy that addresses this most invasive but very rarely used search, if for nothing other than to instruct administration as to the limits of their authority,” Freund said at the time. “I wouldn’t recommend not having anything.”
The version discussed Dec. 3 prohibited such searches unless there was a strong suspicion of imminent threat of serious harm to the student or others.
It read: “Searching involving the exposure of private body parts, other than jackets, coats or other outerwear, shall be conducted only by an administrator of the same gender as the student, with at least one other staff person of the same gender present as a witness, and in a location assuring privacy from observation by persons not involved in the search or of the opposite sex.
“Searches involving the exposure of private body parts may be conducted only after consultation with the district solicitor.”
Freund advised the board that it was important to address the issue in the updated policy.
“I don’t think you’re helping to protect the kid if there is nothing in there,” he said. “This is a very standard thing to have in these policies. I recognize reading the wording sounds somewhat alarming.”
Harris responded: “It’s not just sounding alarming, it is alarming. And that’s the problem we have with it. I don’t trust how far people will go with it.”
Other board members were also wary.
Director Lisa Conover balked at allowing such searches under any circumstances.
“I’m not going to give anybody permission to strip my kid or your kid either,” Conover said Dec. 3.
Vega agreed, adding there might be a need to do a pat-down search of students in certain circumstances, but not of their private parts or under their clothes.
“It’s a huge concern,” Vega said.
The revision was part of a routine review of policies to make sure they align with the student handbook, according to district spokesperson Melissa Reese.