No criminal charges were filed following an investigation of a field trip in which Shipley?s Choice Elementary School third-graders were allegedly asked to remove their clothing for a tick check.
“We don?t normally comment on juvenile cases, but intent is what we look for in any criminal act, and there was no criminal intent in this incident, which is why there are no charges,” said Sgt. David Feerrar, spokesman for Anne Arundel County police.
About 50 students and 30 parents went on the overnight field trip in April to Arlington Echo Outdoor Education Center, but a complaint to the school about a forced tick check sparked an investigation, said Stephen Barry, coordinator of outdoor education for Anne Arundel schools.
It cannot be confirmed whether the adults who conducted the search were parents or faculty or if the students were separated from the group for individual tick checks.
Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Spokesman John Hammond said, “I, personally, have never heard of a school doing a tick check.”
The Millersville school?s health staff, which is part of the county?s health department, does not routinely check students for ticks following recess or a field trip. But parents are encouraged to conduct tick checks at home, said Elin Jones, county health department spokeswoman.
Principal Linda Ferrara, who was not present on the field trip, was transferred to the school system?s central office following the complaints, and interim principal Louis Kamm was not available for comment.
Ferrara was not implicated, and Kamm replaced her for the remainder of the school year, which ended Friday, said Tony Ruffin, school system spokesman.
