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Full 'Thong Check' Report Released

Vice Principal, Counselor Were Wrong, Report Says

POSTED: 3:31 pm PDT June 5, 2002
UPDATED: 6:17 pm PDT June 5, 2002

Officials from the Poway Unified School District released a full report detailing the "thong controversy" at Rancho Bernardo High School Wednesday, 10News reported.

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The district report regarding an administrator who checked female students for thong underwear at a school dance in April makes it very clear that assistant principal Rita Wilson acted "inappropriately," and on her own, 10News reported.

"I think they were trying to do what was right in their minds. Unfortunately, they demonstrated very poor judgment in this case," said district superintendent Dr. Don Phillips.

The superintendent apologized to students and parents, saying the thong incident was an absolute violation of district policy and state code.

In an internal investigation, students alleged that, before a school dance, Wilson asked girls about their underwear, lifted some skirts, and turned away those wearing thongs.

The report says she went "far beyond the grounds of propriety."

"The normal actions again would be to turn on lights, warn students, send students home, or cancel the dance," Phillips said.

A note on Wilson's front door Wednesday said she is not giving interviews, but according to the report, she acted on her own that night. In the report, Wilson said she checked for thongs based on her belief that she was protecting students from an "uncontrolled" or "mob" scene.

Most of the students that spoke to 10News feel bad about the situation and what's happening to Wilson, but they're not sure she should be allowed to stay at the school, 10News reported.

The report also said that school counselor Natalie Johnson used poor judgment that night. She assisted Wilson, but had no training in student searches.

The board of trustees will review the report, Phillips will make a recommendation, and then the board will decide later this month whether any action will be taken, 10News reported.


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