Thefts have been an ongoing problem in the boys’ locker room at South Kitsap High School.

But South Kitsap School District superintendent Dave LaRose said one person’s attempt to curtail the issue was inappropriate.

LaRose said administration at the high school was informed April 26 that a video camera was confiscated from the locker room. He said it was noticed by a custodian cleaning the area. LaRose said the Port Orchard Police Department was contacted and SKSD officials conducted their own investigation, which revealed that a district employee placed the camera in the locker room in hopes of nabbing thieves.

He said the tape, which ran for less than an hour, was pointed directly at lockers and did not show any students. Still, LaRose said cameras have no place in locker rooms.

“Although we recognize frustration with thefts, students’ rights to privacy are most important,” he said. “We want to affirm our commitment to protect students’ rights to privacy.”

LaRose confirmed that the person who placed the camera is a district employee, but declined to elaborate on their position or what disciplinary measures were imposed.

“Corrective action was taken,” he said, adding that he does not expect police to file charges against the employee. “We want to ensure there is accountability for poor judgment. I hope that I am very clear that our response was swift, responsive and thorough from a district perspective.”

LaRose said SKSD has mandatory staff training at the beginning of the year that deals with harassment, but he might look into embedding privacy into that.

He said students also should be cognizant of ways to avoid locker room theft. LaRose said they should take precautionary measures to avoid being targeted by thieves. He said that includes using locks and avoid displaying money or other valuables.