cannabisnews.com: Goose Creek Principal Leaving Post





Goose Creek Principal Leaving Post
Posted by CN Staff on January 06, 2004 at 06:41:54 PT
By Lauren Leach, Staff Writer
Source: The State
Stratford High School’s principal is stepping down two months after a controversial drug raid thrust the Goose Creek school into the national spotlight.George McCrackin will be reassigned to a position at the school district office, not at another school, Berkeley County School Superintendent Chester Floyd said Monday. McCrackin is taking some time off before he and Floyd meet to decide how to “best utilize his experience and talent,” Floyd said.
McCrackin also will be helping the district prepare to defend itself in two lawsuits filed since the Nov. 5 raid caught on tape and shown repeatedly on national television.In the lawsuits, students allege police went too far when they entered the school with weapons drawn and had students, most of whom were black, lie down in a hallway while officers and drug dogs searched for contraband.In another development, a policy review committee is being formed to examine and recommend changes to school policies or procedures to prevent a similar incident, Floyd said.Floyd said the committee, which will report back to him over the next 120 days, will concentrate on four key points:• Keeping drugs off school campuses• Keeping students drug free• Protecting students’ rights• Treating all students fairly.McCrackin, who has been principal of Stratford High since it opened 20 years ago, told Floyd on Saturday he wanted to be reassigned, Floyd said. His decision followed weeks of talks with Floyd about the best way for the school and its 2,700 students to move forward in 2004.McCrackin decided to leave because he thought it would not only be in his best interest, but would be better for his family and “his school,” Floyd said.“Mr. McCrackin has been under a tremendous amount of stress related to this,” said Floyd, who agreed with the decision.“I didn’t want to take a dedicated, loyal employee of 20 years and put him in a role that would put increased pressure on him.”McCrackin could not be reached for comment Monday.Floyd announced the change to Stratford faculty and staff during a meeting Monday morning. The interim principal will be Mildred Brevard, who retired in 1992 as Stratford’s assistant principal. Since 1994, she has been a part-time discipline hearing officer, Floyd said. Brevard’s decision “to take this on at this time is very honorable,” he said.The search for a permanent principal will begin in the spring.Sharon Stafford, the mother of a freshman involved in the raid, said she was ecstatic to hear that McCrackin was leaving his job.“He needed to. Something should have been done a long time ago. Good things come to those who wait.”Her son, Carl Alexander, said he would be happier if McCrackin would leave the school district.“They need to get rid of him altogether,” said the 15-year-old.Goose Creek police conducted the drug raid at the high school Nov. 5 at McCrackin’s request. The principal previously had received information from students and staff and had watched a videotape showing what he said was suspicious activity in a school hallway before classes started.While meeting with a local television reporter, McCrackin allowed the reporter to copy the school videotape of the raid. That copy is what has aired nationally.S.C. Attorney General Henry McMaster and the U.S. Justice Department are deciding whether criminal charges should be filed.The two federal lawsuits, filed last month, seek unspecified damages and an injunction to stop another such raid.McCrackin is a good administrator and will do well in whatever job he tackles next, said Goose Creek Mayor Michael Heitzler.“He is a very fine man who got caught up in something that was unfortunate. Whoever takes his place will have big shoes to fill.”Heitzler would not lay blame on McCrackin or Chief of Police Harvey Becker, who could not be reached for comment late Monday.Floyd said everyone in the district, including McCrackin, wishes the incident had never happened.“I imagine he had envisioned he would end his career at the school,” he said.Note: Stratford High School chief embroiled in controversial drug raid asks to be reassigned.Source: State, The (SC)Author: Lauren Leach, Staff WriterPublished: January 07, 2003Copyright: 2004 The StateContact: stateeditor thestate.comWebsite: http://www.thestate.com/Related Articles & Web Site:ACLUhttp://www.aclu.org/Principal Resigns Over School Drug Raid http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18093.shtml17 Students File Suit Over School Drug Raidhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread17923.shtmlShooting, Stratford Raid Draw FBI http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread17849.shtml 
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Comment #2 posted by billos on January 06, 2004 at 11:31:53 PT:
McCracken...........
seems like the type to drink martinis to his death while trying to stay out of prison and pay off all the civil suits coming down the pipe line. Too bad.
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Comment #1 posted by BlakNo1 on January 06, 2004 at 07:16:06 PT:
hit the road
Please feel free to let the door hit you in the a** on the way out.
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