OCONTO, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — The superintendent of Suring Public Schools has been charged with false imprisonment in connection with alleged strip searches involving multiple students.
Kelly Casper was charged Monday with six counts of false imprisonment, court records show. All six are felonies.
Raelene Helminger says her daughter was one of the students involved.
“I was elated! I’m happy to see something being done,” Helminger told WTAQ News. “Being that they’re felony charges, it’s just another way to get her out of that school and away from any school so she can’t hurt any other children again.”
The topic was already slated to be addressed during a school board meeting at the school Wednesday night.
“And hopefully she won’t be there!” Helminger said.
According to Oconto County District Attorney Edward Burke, Jr., the state looked into the Jan. 18 searches and determined whether Casper violated the state’s provisions regarding the ability of a school employee to confine a student. Upon their review, the state found that Casper lacked legal authority to confine the students in a small restroom in the school complex. The state also found that the students did not consent to being confined, nor were they given the opportunity to leave or contact their parents.
“Notify parents if something like this goes on, or needs to go on. Just have a brain in your head and do something correctly. Don’t just take it upon yourself to infringe on these kids,” Helminger said. “These kids should’ve been given a choice, given an option, or at the very minimum – they should’ve called the parents.”
According to Burke, Jr., Casper and the school nurse searched six girls for vaping devices, asking them to strip to their underwear. Upon reviewing that portion of the investigation, it was determined that the searches were not “strip searches,” and charges would not be filed.
Jeff Olson, a civil rights attorney based in Madison, previously told FOX 11 that “most of the families” involved in the searches retained his services. That came two days after Burke, Jr.’s decision not to file charges.
WTAQ News reached out to the district office for comment, but has not yet heard back.
