RIVERSIDE

A combination of student suspensions and other disciplinary actions due to a prank drew an overflow crowd to the Highland School Board’s meeting Oct. 10.

Attendees included parents and students who were unhappy with the disciplinary penalties handed down by schools superintendent Ken Crawford and Highland High School Principal Angela Hazelett.

Among the disciplined students was Jenna Waters, who is president of the senior class, the Highland Student Council, the Highland chapter of the National Honors Society and the Highland chapter of Future Farmers of America.

“It sucks,” Waters, who was suspended for three days but was allowed to keep all four officer positions, told The News. “We got so much taken away and it’s our senior year.”

Her twin sister, Katelyn, was also among the group of disciplined students.

Four students were removed from the Homecoming Court. At least two students were temporarily removed from athletics competition, although activity suspensions were later reduced to 10 days from the initial 30 days.

Jared Waters, Jenna’s and Katelyn’s dad, told the board that the disciplinary action was not in line with Highland Community Schools conduct policy and “grossly overdone, in my opinion.”

Also speaking to the board were Molly Hartzler, who along with Jenna and Katelyn Waters serves on the district’s Reconsideration Committee, and Abby Sojka of Riverside, who agreed to a legal settlement with the district in 2018 following a lawsuit.

The student prank happened the night of Sept. 18, the beginning of Homecoming Week, when students spread instant potato mix on the front lawn of the high school and stuck plastic forks into the ground. A sign, “Mash the Pirates,” was part of the display, referring to Highland’s football game that week against the Alburnett Pirates.

Washington County police were called, and students were instructed to clean up the lawn and go home.

“They just laughed, told the students to go home,” Hartzler said.

“I thought it was a good idea,” said Jenna Waters.

The next morning, students were called into the high school office and interviewed by school administrators. Soon, penalties were handed down and stories of the incident appeared on television statewide.

“These kids were clearly being used to set an example,” Hartzler told the board.

Crawford stands by the disciplinary decisions, but understood the heated public comment of Monday’s session.

“We always encourage the public to push concerns to the board,” Crawford told The News.

Previous student pranks have included the school being decorated with toilet paper, but parents said that prank last year did not result in disciplinary action.

Sojka, who said the student handbook appears to have different rules than district policies, was direct in her criticism to the board: “Stop playing games with the people who elect them and the people who write their paychecks. … Stop being puppets.”

Board action

The board approved a number of administrative reports, including the Certified Annual Report, Special Education Supplement for funds and Transportation Report.

The board approved the snow removal bid sheet for snow clearing this winter at the secondary and elementary schools. Bid specifics are on social media and the deadline for bids is 1 p.m. Oct. 21.

The board approved a change order of $8,465 to J Harding Inc. for the installation of new basketball hoops at the elementary school in Riverside.

The board approved a number of policy updates.

The board approved the appointments of Lisa Bohannan as special education teacher and Jeff Hoft as secondary schools night custodian.

Life celebration

High School Principal Angela Hazelett announced that a Celebration of Life for social studies teacher Jeffrey Erickson will be held Monday, Oct. 17 at Terry Trueblood Recreation Area in Iowa City. Hours are 4-7 p.m. Erickson, a new teacher at Highland High School, passed away due to an acute illness.

Next meeting: The next regularly scheduled meeting of the board will be at 5 p.m. November 14.

Work session: The board scheduled a work session for 5 p.m. Oct. 24. The session is expected to include a presentation by head football coach Cory Quail.