high school students suspended for riding bikes to school

[beccaB]

WALKER, MI - The Kenowa Hills High School principal who suspended 65 seniors Tuesday for an unauthorized bike ride to school and banned them from their final senior walk around campus is apologizing today.

“Yesterday, I made a mistake and sincerely regret my actions," said Katie Pennnington, in a statement. "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 question the character of our students. Our senior class has demonstrated leadership, unity and school pride throughout this school year."

The 3-mile ride was treated as a prank -- something students were forbidden to engage in on their last day of school -- not the organized, spirited send-off students and parents described it as. Pennington was criticized for overreacting and the tone she later used in reprimanding students.

The suspensions drew national media attention and a crowd at the school board meeting last night.

On Tuesday, Pennington said the students backed up traffic, delaying teachers and buses to schools. She also said they jeopardized their safety. Her ire came despite the fact the students were riding with a Walker Police escort and the Walker mayor was on hand with doughnuts.

"My actions and emotion overshadowed what should have been a very positive senior activity," Pennington said. "I have learned much from this experience and do not consider myself infallible. “I now applaud the students for their foresight in contacting the police department to ensure the safety of their senior surprise. "

Students asked and received a police escort for the from the Walker Fitness and Ice Center, 4151 Remembrance Road NW, to the high school at 3825 Hendershot Ave. NW. Walker Mayor Rob VerHeulen rode in the police cruiser.

Zac Totten, class president and organizer of the bike ride, said it was nice of Pennington to offer an apology. At the board meeting last night, he apologized to her and Superintendent Gerald Hopkins for not informing them of the ride.

“I am really happy that they came back with an apology for us,” said Totten, who said he has no hard feelings toward Pennington or any administrator. “It was well deserved for students and their parents. I think this is something we can all move pass now.”

Neither the mayor nor police were aware the event had not been authorized by the school. Walker police is now checking to see how they learned of the event.

Pennington said she only wished the police department or others who may have known about the event would have let them in on the surprise but, of course, it wouldn’t have been a surprise than.

She has since rescheduled another senior walk to make up for the one the suspended students missed on Tuesday.

“I look forward to our second ‘Senior Walk’ and our Commencement for this senior class. It will be a celebration of their accomplishment and recognition of their creativity," she said.

Hopkins said he spoke with VerHeulen, and they pledged to continue working together in the best interest of the community.

“Our first responsibility is for the safety of our students, and I certainly support Katie’s initial concern for their well-being," he said. "The decision to send participating students home was one that was jointly made by Katie and me based on the information we had at the time."

“As I look back on this incident, I realize this was an adult problem, not a student problem."

He said the adults in school administration, the police department and city administration didn’t communicate as well as they could, and he takes responsibility as the superintendent for ensuring better communication in the future.

"We will learn from this and be stronger for it," he said. " I apologize to the students, parents and community for not having arrived at a better solution. I’m sure our seniors will be successful as they ride off into the future, which is our goal for all of them, and I look forward to celebrating their accomplishments at our Commencement exercises later this month.”

The school is graduating around 300 seniors on May 30, when the second senior walk is scheduled for with the entire senior class.

Email: mscott2@mlive.com and follow her on Twitter at Twitter.com/GRPScotty.

[Sky King]

looks like someone is going to be eating crow for quite a while.

[goldfinch]

I am so impressed when someone admits they are wrong. Rare.

[Desert Tortoise]

It looks like what could have been even uglier was corrected, lessons learned and maybe even some growth all around. We all make mistakes. How often do young people get to see adults behave in an adult manner? (Admit a mistake and then make amends.) And good for those kids for being so well organized.

[Eden]

What I don't understand (in this and every other case that has happened - this has occurred before) is what business is it at all of the principal what the students do until they arrive at school. It seems like the principal has no right at all to dictate how kids get to school.... Would she have been so up in arms if the kids hadn't biked, but had been given a ride by their parents? Or perhaps had even driven themselves? - high school seniors are usually old enough for a license. The sad thing is that she probably wouldn't have even noticed if they had all come by car.(and tied up traffic!)

I feel like an old fuddy duddy..... I walked to school when I was in high school. In my school district I didn't live far enough away to qualify for a bus ride (I think the cut off was 2 or 2.5 miles?) and my parents certainly were not going to drive me - my dad had to be at work before I was even out of bed. Are kids even allowed to walk to school anymore.... I even used to cut through the woods on an unofficial foot path in two places (GASP). I think we shelter kids too much these days.

[zoom-zoom]

I haven't read the full article, yet, but Bicycling magazine currently has a story about this very thing. There are kids in districts that don't even allow them to cross the street to get to school...their parents have to drive them a few hundred feet.

[Eden]

I haven't read the full article, yet, but Bicycling magazine currently has a story about this very thing. There are kids in districts that don't even allow them to cross the street to get to school...their parents have to drive them a few hundred feet.

And we wonder why this country has a childhood obesity epidemic....

[Savra]

The buses where I live drop kids off at EVERY block and the smaller kids are dropped off at their house. My niece picks up the bus at our corner (right next to our house) even though there is another stop just at the next block (a house length away). It's ridiculous. And when she tried just getting on at that stop - the bus driver threatened to write her up. Where when I was a kid there were rows upon rows of places to lock up your bike - now it is rare if a school has one small place for bikes. No wonder our country is filled with obese kids.

[zoom-zoom]

And we wonder why this country has a childhood obesity epidemic....

Yep.

[Cynedra]

Given some of the senior pranks that have escalated far beyond pranks around here, I understand a "tiny" bit about where the principal was thinking especially if she was thinking it was deliberately done to cause a traffic tie up. Of course, she didn't think enough given that they had police escort to assist. Definite over reaction on her part. A majority of the seniors in the districts around here drive to school, but some are also bussed or walk (most likely picked up by their friends). The principals tend to be blamed for everything that goes on before and after school with their students even when it is not even related to school at all, so I can see why a principal would have some concerns about how the students go there. Is it actually the principal's or school's responsibility? I don't think so. Does the general public tend to decide that it is? Definitely yes.

As far as do children walk to school anymore. For a long time, it seemed the answer was no. However, since there have been more or more budget problems, busing in many districts have been cut way back. So now a lot of districts only pick up the students they are mandated too which is usually those that live 2 miles away. There have been major concerns about it in my area because of heavily used roads and little or no sidewalks.

Although I understand the principal's concern, she did over react. She did realize her mistake which is awesome. The seniors should be commended.

[Veronica]

I've been told that the school district is repsonsible for the students from the time they leave their door until they return home. I suspect that somebody, somewhere sued a school district over something that happened en route and won.

Veronica

[smilingcat]

Everyone seems to be defensive on perceived threat of litigation.

Sometimes though, I see the over reaching act of the school goes beyond the perceived threat of litigation and preemptive move to protect themselves.

Well the principle in question was willing to admit she was wrong and apologized (could it be because she is a woman and be more willing to apologize?)

How is the school responsible for kids riding bicycle before school? or what they do afterwards. And what about all the kids who get suspended or kicked out because they were critical of the school on their facebook page.

I just see the whole thing from political shift of this country and I shake my head.

------------

This country is too car-centric in its view!! Why does a car have to take precedence over walking, skateboarding, cycling or other modes of transportation? Why is it that non-car mode of transportation is relegated to being a "third class"?

[Eden]

I've been told that the school district is repsonsible for the students from the time they leave their door until they return home. I suspect that somebody, somewhere sued a school district over something that happened en route and won.

Veronica

That sounds quite ridiculous... are they then responsible for parents who get into accidents while driving their kids to school? Or is that OK because they are being delivered directly from their parent's supervision to the school's?

Do we really think that 16-17 year olds require that level of protection? We give kids that age the ability to get a drivers license. In many states you can be legally emancipated at that age - yet a school district can say you cannot choose the method you use to travel to school......

And what about after school... my parents worked. I can't remember how far back it was when I was home alone after school for at least an hour or two. What did I have to do - walk in my front door first... then I could go for a bike ride (I started doing long solo rides when I was about 14) or walk to the store or to the library? Or was the school supposedly responsible for me until I said hello to my folks? Was I violating the law for years by walking an unsanctioned path home or stopping at a friends house!

I can understand if you ride a school provided school bus, that once you get on that bus you are then their responsibility until you get off, but in places where the school isn't providing that service IMHO it's then up to the parents and the kids what they feel is the right way to go, be it bike, walk, public bus or being dropped off.

[Veronica]

Oh, I totally agree it's ridiculous. But we had a principal a few years ago who told us that when we had kids vandalizing property as they walked back and forth to school.

Veronica

[salsabike]

I've been told that the school district is repsonsible for the students from the time they leave their door until they return home. I suspect that somebody, somewhere sued a school district over something that happened en route and won.

Veronica

I am guessing this is true--not a school district choice, but one stemming from case findings.