SAN DIEGO -- A Rancho Bernardo High School administrator who checked girls for thong underwear at an April 26 school dance received support from parents and colleagues at school board hearing Monday, 10News reported.

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Parents/Students Speak Out About Thong Controversy SOUND OFF Was Rita Wilson Right Or Wrong?

Assistant Principal Rita Wilson (pictured, right), put on leave May 1, supposedly made girls lift their skirts in view of others to show they weren't wearing skimpy underwear.

"There was no malicious intent in checking these girls' undergarments," said Michael Barber, one of 14 speakers who addressed the Poway Unified school board. "She meant to save these children from sexual harassment."

Nine of the speakers said they supported Wilson's actions.

Gayle Stetch, who has two sons at the school, said that the thong checks came in response to reports of dirty dancing, known as "freak dancing," during the same dance in 2001.

Student Ashley Wydra, 18, said she was humiliated by having to lift her skirt for inspection.

"I don't think any high school girl should have to go through this," she said, adding she did not think Wilson should be allowed to supervise children anymore.

Kim Teal, a parent whose daughter was at the dance, said the issue was not "freak dancing" but whether Wilson overstepped the bounds of her authority.

Teacher Michael Ball, whose daughter attended the dance, suggested a faculty-student meeting to discuss the problem.

Superintendent Donald Phillips told the roughly 175 people attending the meeting at Morning Creek Elementary School that an investigation of the incident was continuing.

So far, Wilson, an assistant principal since 1997, has not been formally disciplined. The board did meet in closed session early in the night, but it was unclear if they discussed the thong issue.

Phillips said the controversy spawned a flood of e-mail to his office.

Some families have threatened to sue the school district over the incident, but so far no claims have been filed.