http://www.woodtv.com//dpp/news/local/kent_county/Kenowa-Hills-bike-ride
Biking Kenowa Hills seniors punished
Senior prank rolled over school officials' toes
Updated: Tuesday, 22 May 2012, 9:45 PM EDT
Published : Tuesday, 22 May 2012, 10:12 AM EDT
WALKER, Mich. (WOOD) - As high school seniors get set to walk commencement, toilets are exploding, lockers are getting graffitied and doors are getting super-glued.
The vandalism is part of the tradition known as senior pranks.
But a decision by Kenowa Hills seniors to do something a lot less harmful has drawn the ire of their principal.
The plan was to hold a bike parade as a nice, non-destructive, healthy senior prank.
Seniors called police for an escort, and even called Walker's mayor, who rode in the parade.
"Police escort, with the mayor, who brought us donuts. ...The mayor brought us donuts..." said a group of seniors following the ride.
But school official weren't told in advance, hence the word prank, and were not happy with the event.
They kicked the seniors out of school for their last day and threatened to keep them from walking in graduation ceremonies set for May 30.
Cellphone video caught audio of principal Katie Pennington in a post-prank gathering in the school's performing arts center.
"...Get your butts home. You're not participating in senior walk today."
About 60 seniors got the day off and missed the traditional last walk through the hallways at Kenowa Hills, although students say many more seniors got the one-day suspensions.
It all began when seniors decided to do something original that wouldn't hurt anything for a senior prank.
So they arranged the parade, which followed Kinney Avenue to Three Mile Road to Fruit Ridge Avenue to Four Mile Road to the school, complete with a police escort.
But when they arrived at the school, Principal Katie Pennington went off on students.
She claims the parade backed up traffic for two miles, kept buses and staff from reaching school on time and put students in danger.
"If you and your parents don't have sense enough to know your brains could end up splattered on Three Mile and Kinney, Fruit Ridge, then maybe that's my responsibility," she is heard telling students on the cellphone video obtained by 24 Hour News 8.
Mayor Rob VerHeulen was in the police car escorting the kids and says the officer wasn't concerned about a backup, or the bike riders' safety.
Kenowa Hills Superintendent Gerald Hopkins admitted to 24 Hour News 8 the reaction and punishment from school officials was as much showing them who's in charge as it was reacting to problems they claim were caused by the prank.
"It's a combination…certainly a combination of both," said Hopkins.
"Because of its nature on the last day for seniors to be here it is certainly being classified as a prank...and the communication to the students were pranks won't be tolerated and there will be consequences for those pranks."
School officials have since backed off on the threat of keeping the seniors involved from walking in graduation next week. The senior walk though has been rescheduled for May 30.
guess that school is going to have plumbing issues next year lol...way to overreact smh
Kenowa super, principal apologize
Bike-riding seniors initially suspended
Updated: Wednesday, 23 May 2012, 2:22 PM EDT
Published : Wednesday, 23 May 2012, 2:22 PM EDT
WALKER, Mich. (WOOD) - Kenowa Hills High Schoolprincipal Katie Pennington and superintendent Gerald Hopkins apologized for initially suspending about 60 seniors biking to school with a police escort and the mayor.
A police cruiser escorted about 60 students and the Walker mayor to the school on Tuesday. But Principal Katie Pennington was incensed the school did not know about it and suspended the students for some end-of-year activities.
Angry parents and students flooded a Kenowa Hills school board meeting Tuesday night with harsh words for the high school principal.
In a written statement, Pennington said , "Yesterday, I made a mistake and sincerely regret my actions. Did I overreact? In retrospect, of course I did. My first response to learning of our high school seniors riding bikes to school on busy roads was to fear for their safety, and I responded in kind. I apologize to the students, their parents and the community for a reaction that blew this incident out of proportion and called into questions the character of our students."
I n the same statement, Hopkins said, "As I look back on this incident, I realize this was an adult problem, not a student problem. The adults in school administration, the police department and city administration didn't communicate as well as they could, and I take responsibility for the superintendent for ensuring better communication in the future. ... I apologize to the students, parents and community for not having arrived at a better solution."
The students will be able to go through their Senior Walk and participate in the graduation ceremonies.
Walker Police Chief Catherine Garcia-Lindstrom initiated an internal investigation into the incident for knowing about the event and not informing superior officers ahead of time.
Talk about sending the wrong message!
My goodness, obviously the police & the Mayor didn't find it to be dangerous.
The school really over reacted, I guess next year the kids will just go back to resorting to pulling pranks that cause damage.
Ridiculous!
The principals "apology" is just as bad....she is concerned about high school Seniors, most of whom are 18, riding bicycles???? Does she have the same concerns about her Sophomore and Junior classes having cars and the ability to drive to school???? Or those same Seniors DRIVING to school every day???? Does she complain about every town parade that happens on a school day as those could create the same problems with traffic????
How can I take three children to the store by myself? I have never done this but my husband says he won't go anymore.
- JZB
on May. 23, 2012 at 11:40 AM