Rumors circulate about streaker’s punishment
While Salem Police continue to investigate the case of a 15-year-old student who disrupted the half-time show at Salem High School’s final home football game of the season, students are circulating rumors on Facebook that he has been expelled for the rest of the year.
Not so, according to school administrators.
School Superintendent Dr. Alan Seibert is bound by policy not to discuss specifics about student discipline matters.
However, Tuesday afternoon he referred the Salem Times-Register to Salem School Board minutes that do not show any recommendation this school year from the Disciplinary Review Committee for the school board to expel a student.
Word – and pictures – of the scantily clad student other students identified as sophomore Jonathan Stauffer hit the web while the Nov. 4 game was going on.
The crowd in the home stands went wild as the student wearing only white briefs and a stocking cap dashed onto the field from the field house. He grabbed a flag corps flag and ran through the band formation.
John Shaner, director of Salem Parks & Recreation, gave chase along the home stand sideline, following the student as he wove his way through The Pride of Salem Band show.
The student was brought down near the end zone by school personnel and escorted off the field by three Salem Police officers.
Fans with cell phones recorded the event and posted their video on YouTube.
Members of The Pride of Salem never missed a note and finished their halftime show. After the game, they performed again, Band Director Jim Paxton confirmed, so an unblemished videotape could be made to present as a gift to the band’s graduating seniors and their families.
Paxton also said he had information that the student intended to run through the band formation so he would show up on the videotape of the halftime show.
In response to the Salem Times’ question if the student had been expelled, as student posting on Facebook say, and a summary of how serious student misconduct is handled, School Superintendent Seibert wrote in his e-mail response:
“By virtue of being minors and being enrolled in public schools, students are afforded considerable and justifiable protections of their confidentiality. This protection is so great that a school cannot publicly refute claims made by parents or students because doing so would require divulging facts contained in an academic record.
“We routinely endure speculation and misinformation because our respect of student confidentiality comes first…even when telling the whole story would be beneficial from a public relations perspective.
“In Salem City Schools, serious misconduct is referred to the Disciplinary Review Committee (DRC). During any disciplinary hearing, the committee has full access to the student’s entire record. Attendance, grades, and conduct representing a student’s entire history of citizenship and academic achievement are reviewed and considered. Recommendations from the DRC are based on all of the information available,” Seibert said in his e-mail.
“Our DRC has a long history of combining consequences with significant support and positive interventions for students. It is in no one’s best interest to deprive a child of the opportunity to continue their education.
“Lastly, expulsion cannot be administered by a school principal or even the superintendent in Virginia. Expulsion requires School Board Action in the form of a majority vote of the School Board,” Seibert said.
