News Story 1

In order to protest punishment for senior prank, all 20 seniors involved and their parents

will speak at the next school board meeting on Tuesday.

On Friday, April 3, 20 seniors released balloons into the hallway between 1st and 2nd

period. Although there were no injuries, 150 tardies were logged in that time period.

"The hallways were chaotic and super loud during the balloon release," math teacher

Grace Killen said. "The seniors meant no harm, but the prank was disruptive."

It took Killen 15 minutes to calm down her class.

As punishment, principal Vinita Haygood suspended the seniors for the rest of the day

and banned them from the all night senior party on May 1. The seniors and their parents are

planning on speaking at the next school board meeting in order to get the punishment revoked.

"The seniors are welcome to speak at the board meeting, but the board should not

reverse my decision," Haygood said. “I gave ample warnings to the senior class that I would not

tolerate any sort of prank that disrupts school.”

The prank did not involve any property damage or cause bodily harm to anyone. Last

year the seniors put Vaseline on doorknobs and locks of lockers. None of them were caught.

"Our punishment is way too extreme," senior Ruby Kanur said. “I think the board will

listen to us. There are so many bad senior pranks out there. We didn’t vandalize anything. We

didn’t hurt anyone. We blew up a few balloons and released them. It wasn’t a big deal, but

principal Haygood is turning it into one.”

The seniors claim they were just pulling a prank. They bought the balloons at the dollar

store, blew them up the night before, and filled up garbage bags with them.

"We really thought she would just make us pick up the trash and serve a few detentions -

at the most," senior Alfred Refugio said. "But we didn’t even get to pick up the balloons because

she went ballistic and suspended us that day."

 The seniors’ parents also plan on attending the board meeting.

"Let the punishment fit the crime," Ruby Kanur's mother Milly Kanur said. “They were

balloons. Balloons. They could have put shaving cream in them or glitter. But they didn’t. These

kids have worked hard for 12 years. They deserve a little fun.”