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“The video was not meant to be shared outside of a small group of friends and it was not targeted at any particular student,” Durham said. “The two students in the video say they meant it as a joke amongst friends and did not intend for anyone outside of their small group to view it.”

Durham said that the district had no authority to punish students for behavior outside of school.

“While schools do have jurisdiction to discipline students for their online, off-campus behavior under certain circumstances, this case did not meet the criteria,” he said. 

“While the school and district find this type of joke cruel and abhorrent and would discipline the students if legally permissible, the circumstances of this case just don’t allow it. However, the student who sent the video to several, specific students does meet the criteria necessary to punish a student for their online behavior. The student was assigned discipline consistent with the district’s code of conduct.”

In an update on Oct. 22,  Durham said the district and high school “want to make it clear that acts of discrimination based on race will not be tolerated on our campuses or toward our students. Individuals committing such acts will be subject to disciplinary consequences. We recognize that many students were negatively affected by the content of this video and the school is prepared to support their needs.”

Support for Suspended Players

On Friday, players on the football team were planning to sit out during the homecoming game. They wanted to show support for their suspended teammates. But parents reported the school’s principal said the players would have to forfeit the rest of the season if they didn’t play.

 During the game, the players held up their teammates’ jerseys in a gesture of solidarity.

Thursday night’s school board meeting had a record number of attendees. Parents were demanding answers and explanations of the principal and school district’s response to the controversy.

A large number of students were on-hand holding posters supporting #4 and #5 the suspended Black players.