Published by The Boston Globe
Parents of Needham High girls’ soccer players will not be allowed to present information related to an alleged hazing incident to the School Committee tonight as they had requested, the board's chairman said.
‘‘Details of student issues, we won’t discuss in public,” said Connie Barr, chair of the committee.
The Boston Globe reported last month that several members of the varsity girls' soccer team were suspended for hazing, but they returned to school while an appeals process began to determine whether to extend those suspensions.
Barr declined to comment on the appeals process.
At the last School Committee meeting, Mary Ellen Dunn, whose sophomore daughter is on the team, requested permission on behalf of the team’s parents to publicly present information related to the incident.
Dunn said parents are concerned that the soccer players’ civil rights may be violated if they are suspended. Dunn said that after she requested to present information at the committee meeting, Barr and Marianne Cooley, the committee’s vice-chair, offered to meet with her and other parents.
The parents met with Barr and Cooley, then with Superintendent Daniel Gutekanst, before the Thanksgiving break, said Dunn. She said she does not know whether the information she gave administrators has made an impact on the appeals process.
“We have provided them with all the information we have, including the information we have regarding the due process and civil rights violations that occurred with the suspensions,” said Dunn.
Dunn said the parents are not opposed to taking action against hazing behavior, but they believe the athletes should have had appeals before facing suspension. She said other punishments less harsh than suspension would have conveyed the message.
“We certainly agree they should investigate it, and there should be some consequences,” she said. “I would support a no tolerance message; every parent would, short of suspension from school.”
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