SURING, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – The superintendent of Suring Public Schools has been placed on paid administrative leave after being criminally charged in connection with controversial student searches.
The school board voted during its meeting Wednesday night to place Kelly Casper on leave beginning today.
Casper was charged Monday with six counts of false imprisonment for how she allegedly detained students to do strip searches for vaping cartridges.
The Oconto County District Attorney has said the strip searches themselves were legal.
At the board’s meeting, one hour was set aside for public comment, with a limit of two minutes per speaker.
Tabitha School has students in the district. she’s one of many who gave emotional statements during public comment.
“Every single thing she did was wrong. It’s disgusting that it has to come to this.”
And she wasn’t alone.
Pleading for change, Jamie Barke of Hobart implies a movement if no action was taken.
“I will rally every single parent in the state. I will call on politicians,” said Barke. “I will make sure people are peacefully protesting what’s happening inside of the school district.”
After about 40 minutes of public comment and over an hour in closed session the board returned with news of Casper being placed on administrative leave.
School board president Wayne Sleeter adding this.
“I believe I also speak for the board when I say this is easily the most difficult situation I’ve ever been involved with as a board member.”
Casper is scheduled to make an initial court appearance on the false imprisonment charges March 23rd.
