BINGHAMTON, NY (1010 WINS) -- A community firestorm has erupted in Binghamton over the alleged strip search of four 12-year-old girls at a middle school.
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"The children were instructed to remove their clothing, and felt shamed, humiliated and traumatized by the experience," according to a statement by the group Progressive Leaders.
The Binghamton Press & Sun Bulletin reports about 200 people packed a heated school board meeting to discuss the incident.
They said the girls, who are black, were questioned and strip-searched by the school nurse and assistant principal because they seemed 'giddy' during lunch and were suspected of possessing drugs.
The school district said it's sorry for the 'unintended' consequence of 'making the students feel traumatized.'
"Unfortunately, our students shared that these actions have had the unintended consequences of making the students feel traumatized. We sincerely apologize for the impact this has had and are working with these families to support their children's success," the district's statement said. "A student may, under current law and policy, be searched in a school building by an administrator when the administrator reasonably suspects that a student's health is in danger or is in possession of a substance that may harm themselves or others."
A procedural review has been planned. The district made no mention of strip searches, the Sun Bulletin reports.
