Atlantic, IA- It started with someone stealing a hundred dollars from a student at the Atlantic, Iowa High School.  It ended with five girls who say they were stripped searched by a female counselor.  The male administrator who allegedly gave the strip search order is on leave.

Some of the girls, their parents and others showed up at the Tuesday school board meeting trying to get answers. Concerned mom, Shelly Pottebaum says, "Everyone involved has to answer for it in one way or the other." Shelly told the school board to find a quick resolution to the situation for the girls. The interim superintendent, Dan Crozier says, "We are in the confidential stage and still interviewing. There's not much we can say."

Board President, Phil Hascall addressed the small crowd at the meeting. "It's a long investigation and we are going to take our time and do it right by policy and by law."

After the incident August 21, one of the girls went to the Atlantic Police Department and filed a report. The Chief of Police says detectives investigated and found this wasn't a criminal matter, but a school matter.

The report states, "A female counselor stated she searched all five girls, one by one in a separate room, telling them only that she needed to see the inside of their pants and bras. " 

However, Matt Hudson, the lawyer representing one girl says, "My client was told to take off her bra and underwear  in front of the counselor and female classmate who had money stolen. My client asked if she could just lift up her bra and was told no to take it off. My client also asked if she had to take off her underwear and she was told yes to take it off too." 

One Atlantic High Senior, Sara Pottebaum says she doesn't feel safe in school anymore. "Ever since the stripping happened, you don't know what to expect when you come to school and walk through those doors." Sara also says she has grown up with one girls, "They're embarrassed and they didn't want to come to school the next day."

Iowa state code says strip searches are not allowed in school. In fact, they're illegal.   The lawyer says the families could file a lawsuit against the district.