We are asking for your support because parents and students in Licking Valley are being treated disrespectfully, and in some cases, allegedly being threatened and intimidated during interrogations for investigations being conducted by senior school personnel. The high school administrators are not being held accountable for their actions, and it seems they may have taken on the attitude that they are empowered to do whatever they want without consequence.
Recently, an investigation was completed in light of a party that occurred off school grounds, and was unrelated to any school sanctioned event. During the investigation conducted by H.S. administrators, individual students were being isolated in small offices with 2-3 grown men surrounding them, allegedly being lied to, threatened and intimidated in order to “confess” or to single out individuals that may have consumed alcohol at the party.
A main administrator who was a part of the investigative group admitted that yelling is sometimes used to coax kids into “telling the truth”, and explains that it is within their rights to treat kids this way.
Administrators from various other school districts, as well as mental health and drug and addiction counseling professionals have all agreed that the form of investigation being used is unhealthy and unfair, and that the “punishment” for first time offenses is more detrimental to a child’s well being than beneficial. Every single person we spoke to expressed SHOCK that kids were being suspended for entire seasons based strictly on statements from other kids!!
No actual evidence is needed to destroy a kid's athletic season!!!!!!
In fact, LV’s disciplinary action for first time offenses is substantially more stringent than any local school district, the state of Ohio’s High School Athletic Association guidelines, and after comparing, is far more stringent than schools located throughout the rest of Ohio. Most schools suspend students for 1-2 events maximum, while LV suspends kids for 100% of a season, and the only appeal is to one of the men investigating the alleged offense! Further, the LV administrators state that they do not need actual evidence, because “reasonable suspicion” is sufficient to condemn a kid from participating in an entire season of athletics! Are you ok with that??
In light of this event, several past high school students and parents have stepped forward to share their similar experiences at this school, and all of them have said the same thing! No one is happy with the way matters are being handled by the administration and IT IS TIME FOR CHANGE!
Join us now in demanding that changes be made in the way our students are being treated during meetings with senior administrators of the high school, and guidelines for discipline are revised to be more appropriate for first time offenses, and offer opportunities to the students to redeem themselves!
SIGN TODAY so we can show the school board we are serious, we will not tolerate this treatment of our children and their parents any longer! And, WE WILL NOT GO AWAY UNTIL POSITIVE CHANGE IS MADE!