Hazard High School lap dance incident: Old videos surface
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Newly surfaced movies posted on social media present more Hazard High School skits by which college students acted provocatively as lecturers laughed and generally participated in the course of the previous 4 years.
The movies have been shared with the Courier Journal, a part of the USA TODAY Community, Thursday after Hazard Independent Schools district announced Wednesday it had launched an investigation into this 12 months’s homecoming celebration that included a “Man Pageant” and led to photographs being posted on the varsity’s Fb web page of scholars giving lap dances of their undergarments.
That investigation ended with “acceptable disciplinary motion,” based on Superintendent Sondra Combs, who wouldn’t say who has been punished. Combs stated college students have been behind the “homecoming festivities,” and described the occasions as an remoted incident.
However the brand new movies obtained by the Courier Journal present related skits have been carried out beforehand.
Background:Kentucky high school staff members got lap dances from students, photos appear to show
One video, first posted on Instagram in October 2017 then shared once more in January 2018, exhibits one male scholar — wearing a bra, shorts and wig — grinding on two different male college students who sat in chairs in the course of the health club, whereas a fourth scholar concurrently throws a wad of what seems like money into the air.
The background of the health club and the brand on its flooring are the identical because the photographs shared this week, and the video was posted by a former Hazard Excessive scholar.
One other video exhibits a male scholar in a protracted white costume and wig dancing to Madonna’s “Like a Virgin,” in the course of the varsity health club. The scholar repeatedly rolls round on the ground and crawls towards the group.
In the course of the skit, the scholar approaches Principal Donald “Glad” Mobelini and rubs his arms over Mobelini’s head and chest. Because the skit continues, the video exhibits Mobelini clapping his arms to the beat of the music.
It isn’t clear what 12 months the video was taken, although a number of college students and workers members have been sporting masks over their nostril and mouth, indicating it was in the course of the coronavirus pandemic. Once more, the background of the health club and the brand on its flooring are the identical because the photographs shared this week.
Based on Tosha Lindon, a mom whose son attends Hazard Excessive, the “Man Pageant” has been a longstanding homecoming custom.
But, Combs described this 12 months’s celebration as the primary of its sort.
“We attempt to foster creativity in our college students, however sadly, this time it was carried too far,” Combs stated in an emailed assertion Wednesday night.
The homecoming actions “all have been meant to be enjoyable and good-natured nonetheless, the actions didn’t play out as meant,” she stated Wednesday. “Whereas Homecoming is an annual custom, there has by no means been any subject raised previous to this 12 months.”
“On the finish of the day, the light-hearted exercise merely bought out of hand, and for that, we apologize. Sooner or later, we are going to attempt to maintain the lighthearted, enjoyable nature of college actions with out the inappropriate habits,” Combs stated.
Combs and Hazard Unbiased board members couldn’t be reached instantly for feedback on the extra movies.
Gov. Andy Beshear responded to the current photographs throughout his Thursday press briefing, calling what occurred “completely unacceptable” and “inappropriate.”
The district and state management “have to take acceptable motion and be certain that it will by no means occur once more,” he stated.
Moreover, Beshear stated adults on the faculty have been rightfully criticized for letting it go on and district management ought to “ensure that we’re elevating our children proper about what’s and isn’t acceptable, particularly on the planet that we reside in.”
The outcomes of the district’s investigation and what punishments are given needs to be made public, he added.
Frank Newberry, a father with two youngsters throughout the district, stated he was “horrified,” after seeing the images from Tuesday.
“My downside just isn’t with the kids — they’re youngsters, youngsters do goofy issues. My downside is the adults and their response to it,” Newberry stated. “I count on youngsters to be youngsters. However, I count on the adults tasked with supervising them to point out higher judgment than that.”
After viewing the movies, Kentucky Division of Training spokeswoman Toni Konz Tatman stated the division doesn’t become involved in native district issues.
“KDE was made privy to what passed off in Hazard Unbiased Faculties yesterday morning and reached out to the superintendent. She knowledgeable us yesterday that the incident is underneath investigation,” Konz Tatman wrote.
Kentucky regulation requires superintendents to report any cases of educator misconduct, Konz Tatman continued.
Hazard is positioned in southeastern Kentucky, a couple of three-hour drive from Louisville and two hours from Lexington. The inhabitants is about 5,000, U.S. census data present.
Hazard Excessive is one among three faculties that make up Hazard Unbiased Faculties. It’s the solely highschool within the district and there are about 340 college students enrolled, based on U.S. Information & World Report. There are 32 workers members listed on the faculty’s listing.
Contributing: Mary Ramsey, Chris Kenning and Billy Kobin