9-21-19

Damonte Ranch Homecoming Incident Report

This year’s homecoming theme was the Biggest Little Homecoming – tying in various Reno area activities such as the Reno
Rodeo, Street Vibrations, Reno Air Races, Reno Aces, and downtown.

According to our xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, the xxxxxx xxxxx chose to build their float around the Reno Rodeo theme. Class
advisors, xxxxxxx xxxxx and xxxxxxxxxxxxxx, indicated that students were to incorporate a Lancer into their float. This was the
expectation for all floats to incorporate a Lancer somehow into their float theme. The class advisors approved a plan to
purchase a blowup cowboy/horse and then lasso a student wearing knight armor and then stand on the float. According to the
xxxxxx xxxxx xxxxxxxxx, it was later decided to purchase a blow up mannequin instead of dressing up a student. The xxxxxxx
said xxx was unaware that there was a change in the original plan. The xxxxxx xxxxx xxxxxxxxx tried to purchase a gray
mannequin on Amazon but the only one available was black. The students dressed a black blowup mannequin as a Lancer
knight, using paper to show it’s armor, shield, helmet, and sword. The Blow up “Lancer Knight” was lassoed around the waist
and was to be standing on the float during the float parade. According to the xxxxxx xxxxx xxxxxxxxx, they couldn’t keep the
mannequin standing on the float and that’s why it ended up being dragged behind the student dressed in the blow up
cowboy/horse.

On behalf of our Damonte Ranch staff and students, we are extremely apologetic and by no way was our intent to ever offend
anyone but rather demonstrate a traditional, friendly rivalry. We completely understand how this was perceived and how this
could be offensive to anyone in attendance at the game. I cannot begin to express how incredibly sorry we are that this took
place during the Homecoming Float Parade. We would never intentionally try to offend any culture as we represent diverse
cultures in our Damonte Ranch High School and community. Our staff should have recognized how this could offend others and
remove the mannequin from the float parade. We deeply regret this action, although unintentional, has offended members of
our community and for that we are deeply sorry. This is a valuable learning experience and lifelong lesson for our Damonte
Ranch students and staff. Again, we are deeply sorry and will take action and necessary steps to ensure that this never repeats
itself at Damonte Ranch High School.