THUNDER BAY -- While a backpack or locker might be searched over a disciplinary matter, anything criminal would be handled by police local school boards say.
Quebec media reported that a 15-year-old girl was forced to strip naked behind a blanket so a female principal could search her clothes for marijuana at a high school in Quebec City.
On Wednesday Ontario education minister Liz Sandals said that would never happen in Ontario as the province has a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to staff strip-searching students.
Lakehead Public Schools education officer Jeff Upton said mandates come from the province and individual boards follow appropriate investigative guidelines. Principals and vice-principals could search a bag or locker, not the actual student, to maintain order or discipline but anything beyond that is up to police.
"If there's a matter that's serious enough then the police are contacted and the investigations process gets handled by them," Upton said.
"Anything that's of a serious nature, that's of a criminal nature."
After repeated attempts officials from the Thunder Bay Catholic District School Board were unable to provide comment.
