Suring School District sign as seen Thursday, Oct. 11, 2018. PC: Fox 11 Online
MADISON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — A bill banning student strip searches by school officials in Wisconsin was signed into law Friday.
Green Bay area legislators, Senator Eric Wimberger (R – Green Bay) and Representative Dave Steffen (R – Green Bay), worked to change state law following a controversial strip search of six teenage girls at the Suring School District.
The girls said their superintendent ordered them to strip to their underwear in January 2022 in search of vaping devices.
Oconto County prosecutors later determined the searches didn’t break the law, which defines strip search to mean when a person’s private parts are uncovered and exposed. The students in Suring still had their underwear on.
“Wisconsin’s schools are supposed to be a safe and protective environment where students can focus on their studies,” said Senator Wimberger. “There is no reason that a school official should have the authority to strip search students, violate their privacy, and force them into an uncomfortable and inappropriate situation.”
Senate Bill 111 extends the definition of “strip search” to include searches that would require a student to strip down to their underwear.
This bill makes no changes to law enforcement’s authority to conduct necessary searches during the course of an official investigation.
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