Iowa school official on leave after alleged strip search

ATLANTIC, Iowa (AP) - An administrator at Atlantic High School has been placed on leave pending an investigation into the alleged strip-search of five female students.

Dan Crozier is interim superintendent of the Atlantic school district. He says the board of education will discuss the matter at a meeting Tuesday.

He wouldn't release the administrator's name.

Family members say Atlantic school officials forced the girls to remove their clothes during an investigation into a theft on Aug. 21.

The families and their lawyers say the incident amounts to a strip-search, which is illegal in Iowa schools. Crozier says the search was "allowable" under board rules.

Lawyers say the girls were forced to strip down to their undergarments, and one girl took off all of her clothes.

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Information from: KJAN-AM, http://www.kjan.com

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press.

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