LINCOLN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
Ruston, Louisiana
SPECIAL CALLED SESSION
Friday, May 21, 1999 12:00 p.m.
The Lincoln Parish School Board met in Special Called Session on Friday, May 21, 1999 at 12:00 p.m. in the Board Room of the Lincoln Parish School Board Office, 410 South Farmerville Street, Ruston, Louisiana. Members present were Mr. David Wright, Mr. Billy Abrahm, Ms. Priscilla Barfield, Dr. Marty Beasley, Mr. Curtis Dowling, Ms. Mattie Harrison, Mr. Jim Kessler, Mr. George Mack, Mr. Joe Mitcham, Mr. Rob Shadoin (arrived after the meeting began), and Mr. Allen Tuten.
Absent was Mr. Otha Anders.
President Wright called the meeting to order and the invocation was given by Mr. Mitcham. Mr. Wright led the Board in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag. He welcomed guests and members of the media and of the official staff. He was especially glad to welcome Ms. Priscilla Barfield, interim board member for ward 4, and expressed the Board's pleasure for her presence.
Mr. Shadoin joined the meeting.
Mr. Wright informed those present that the purpose of the Special Called Session was to consider the appeals by two parents of students who had been told they were not going to be allowed to participate in their graduation ceremony. He asked the parents if they wanted an open or closed session.
Bobby Culpepper, attorney representing D'Mario Cook and Jerry Goldsmith, indicated that an open session was preferred.
Ruston High School Principal, Dr. Charles Scriber, introduced both students and their relatives.
As is customary, Mr. Wright explained in detail the procedure to be followed in considering the appeals.
Dr. Scriber provided background information on an incident which occurred at Ruston High School at approximately 11:40 p.m. on Tuesday, May 11, the seniors' last day of regular classes. As the students were entering the building after the first lunch shift ended, it appeared that someone sprayed a chemical in the upstairs hall and possibly in the stairwell. Students began to cough, gag, and vomit as they ran out of the building. He entered the building the see what was going on and determined that the first floor was okay. Back outside, he found about 360 students and 16 faculty members, 1 of whom is pregnant, who had been evacuated from the second floor and were sick and teary-eyed. For the next 35 to 40 minutes he entered the building several times to determine if it was safe for the students to reenter. At approximately 12:20 the administration and faculty ushered the students back to class. One teacher was unable to return to her classroom and several students went to the office to call home and to get assistance. According to Dr. Scriber, it was at that time, as reported to him by an assistant principal, that two students identified D'Mario Cook and the Goldsmith twin in the white shirt as the persons responsible for the spraying.
Mr. Culpepper expressed his objection to the Board receiving heresay evidence.
Mr. Shadoin explained that Board proceedings were not subject to the same legalities as a court of law and heresay evidence could be presented.
On Wednesday, May 12, Dr. Scriber requested that Assistant Principal, Mr. David Crowe, make an announcement that RHS would offer a $200 reward for an eye witness account of the incident identifying the person or persons who had released the spray. The same two boys were again identified, this time by eye witnesses; therefore, the police were notified in the event that this became a criminal offense. The police were of the opinion that the chemical sprayed was pepper spray. Dr. Scriber further described several meetings that took place between the involved parties and an offer that was made that if Jerry and D'Mario came forward, admitted their guilt, and showed remorse regarding the pepper spraying incident, the administration would reconsider their decision to prevent them from participating in the graduation ceremony. Community service and/or the repayment of reward money was also to be a probable consequence. The boys steadfastly denied any involvement in the pepper spraying incident. Based on the reliability of the eye witnesses, the endangerment of the health and safety of students and teachers, the total disruption of the school day, and believing graduation is a privilege and not a right, he completed his presentation with a request that the Board uphold their decision that the boys not be allowed to participate in graduation on Tuesday, May 25. They have earned their diploma, according to Dr. Scriber, and that will not be withheld. He asked Mr. Crowe and Assistant Principal, Glenda Smith, to give the details of their investigation and subsequent actions.
Mr. Crowe shared a narrative of events surrounding the above-mentioned incident and investigation, and said that within minutes of the reward offer, several students came to the office and identified D'Mario Cook and Jerry Goldsmith as those releasing the spray. He explained how he took statements from the students who came to the office after the reward was offered and called Officers Beard and Sisemore from the Ruston Police Department to become part of the investigation since a criminal offense might have occurred.
Ms. Smith also shared her involvement in the investigation and reiterated that two students gave her D'Mario and Jerry's names following the return to class on May 11. She repeated that both D'Mario Cook and Jerry Goldsmith denied all allegations when telling their stories. The investigation was concluded and the administration met to discuss all findings on Friday, May 14. It was decided that a final decision should be postponed until Monday. The administrative staff met again on Monday, May 17, there was no new evidence, and it was decided that a letter should be send to D'Mario and Jerry stating that they could not participate in graduation exercises.
The Board exercised their prerogative and questioned the RHS administration. All three administrators said after talking with the boys and various reliable witnesses, they had no doubt of D'Mario and Jerry's guilt.
Bobby Culpepper addressed lengthy questions to Dr. Scriber and a few brief inquiries to Glenda Smith.
Mr. Wright announced that it was time for the defendants to present their information.
Mr. Culpepper moved for dismissal of charges and the disciplinary proceedings as required, in his opinion, by LA Revised Statute 17:416.
President Wright denied his request and Mr. Culpepper called D'Mario Cook to the stand and questioned him. Ms. Cook also shared her concerns and questions. Jerry Goldsmith was also called to the podium and questioned by Mr. Culpepper. Both boys said they were going up the stairs with other students when they encountered the pepper spray. They again denied participating in the spraying of the chemical or any knowledge as to the perpetrator and fervently voiced their desire to participate in the graduation ceremony.
Mr. Culpepper had another student, Cassidy Williams, tell what happened on May 11. She said that she was going up the stairs with the D'Mario and Jerry and the spray was already there (on the second floor).
The Board addressed brief questions to D'Mario and Jerry.
Ruston Juvenile Officer, Steve Beard, told the Board of his participation in the investigation which brought him to the same conclusion as the Ruston High administrators, that D'Mario and Jerry participated in the pepper spraying incident. He concluded his investigation on Friday at approximately 5:00 p.m. and has turned the information over to the District Attorney.
He was briefly questioned as he was late for a court appearance.
At approximately 2:19 p.m., Mr. Wright asked the visitors to leave the room in order for the board to deliberate.
Visitors were called back into the Board room at approximately 2:50 p.m.
Mr. Culpepper asked if Ruston High personnel were allowed to remain in the Board room during deliberations. Mr. Wright answered in the affirmative.
Mr. Tuten said that after carefully listening to all discussion, he would like to make a motion to uphold the decision of school administration leaving open the option previously offered to march in graduation if an appropriate apology and restitution are made and that would be up to the students. Dr. Beasley seconded the motion and that Board unanimously voted for the motion.
Mr. Wright suggested that the parties involved get together to discuss the details and make sure everyone understands them as a decision is to be made by Monday morning.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 2:58 p.m.
___________________________________ ____________________________
Gerald W. Cobb, Secretary David Wright, President