East Carter H.S. players get suspension as punishment; additional days added

Update: School officials have avoided public press, but some parents of East Carter students say an additional suspension was levied on some of the alleged hazers to the tune of 180 school days.
August 23, 2007
Poplar Bluff

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH ~ DAR Associate Editor

ELLSINORE — East Carter County Superintendent Tim Hager has issued what he described as “longterm” suspensions to the students involved in an alleged hazing incident at a summer basketball camp.”The high school principal has done a 10-day suspension,” Hager said. “The discipline slips were forwarded to me.” … I have made long-term suspensions of those students. I can’t go into more detail, at this point, due to the ages of the students.”The alleged hazing occurred while about 22 East Carter players were attending a basketball camp from June 10-13 at Lyon College in Batesville Ark.Hager said he could not comment on the number of students who were suspended or the exact length of their suspensions.The 10-day suspensions, Hager said, began the first day of classes on Aug. 15, and the long-term suspensions will run consecutively to the initial one.

The district, according to Hager, has completed its investigation and is following standard operating procedures in regards to the suspensions.

“Sometimes (the discipline slips) are forwarded to the superintendent for review; sometimes they’re forwarded for more ” Hager said.

The students’ parents, he said, can appeal the suspensions to the Board of Education. The board’s next meeting will be 7 p.m. Monday.

“They can do that (appeal) if they wish ” Hager said. “It will be in a closed session because you’re talking about student records and students’ names.”