On Sunday evening, Carroll Community School District Superintendent, Rob Cordes, said he was made aware of a group text from some Carroll High football players to a gay student who had been selected as a member of the homecoming court. The print-off, which was left on the windshield of a coach’s vehicle on Friday night, included comments telling the gay student to kill themselves or die and that other players would drop out of school if he did not remove himself from the homecoming court.
Cordes said this falls under the school’s anti-bullying and anti-harassment policy, but each one of these situations is different and are treated on an individual basis. The administration is still gathering information, and as of this morning (Tuesday), there has not been any consequences leveled at those involved. He said the scope of the types of punishments the students could face is broad.
Though there were only a few students involved in the group messaging, Cordes said district staff are working together to come up with ways to educate the entire student body about tolerance and acceptance.
He added that everyone, not just those involved, needs to take a lesson away from this incident.
An investigation into the incident is ongoing. Cordes said students, parents or guardians with concerns should contact the Carroll High School Principal, Tammie McKenzie.
