McKeel’s school administrators were so outraged by the damage caused by a senior prank earlier this week that they fired off an electronic letter to parents suggesting criminal charges were pending against the seniors.
By Thursday, the school had informed the Polk County Sheriff’s Office that it would handle the matter in-house and not press charges.
In an email from a McKeel Academy of Technology spokesperson also on Thursday, she said the administration had reversed its initial stance in the letter to file charges against students. Kristine Fagan, director of communications and community relations said, “… no charges will be made. The MAT Administration has been in communication with students and families internally.”
The issue started Monday when McKeel administration sent a letter to parents describing what it called “vandalism and criminal mischief” committed by at least 50 students in the early morning hours. Parents who reached out to The Ledger this week described damage to doors and windows, debris littered across sidewalks, vulgar messages scrawled across walls and some doors and a gates that had the pins removed from their hinges.
The letter, sent to parents at 10:59 a.m. Monday, said at least 50 students were involved and the administration was considering charges related to trespassing, vandalism and criminal mischief.
“Unfortunately, last night we had MANY members of the Senior Class break into the school and trespass on the campus to conduct a huge amount of vandalism and criminal mischief,” the letter said.
“A Senior Prank is an annual tradition and usually a mess is left for us to clean up the following day,” it said. “What was done last night severely crossed a line from prank to crime.”
The letter said, “a minimum of 50 Seniors” have been identified from video footage as involved in “criminal activities, which includes both trespassing and vandalism.” The administration said it continues to identify more students.
“We intend to serve consequences on all students involved,” the letter said. “We are so disappointed in the Seniors who played any part at all in this. While we expect the annual Senior Prank, we do not expect criminal acts from our students.”
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office acknowledged deputies responded to a call Monday, but until Wednesday did not acknowledge an active investigation was underway. The Sheriff’s Office confirmed Wednesday afternoon that the agency was investigating the incident.
Sheriff’s spokesperson Carrie Horstman said Monday that deputies responded to a call at 1:22 a.m. based on call logs, but no report had been written and the agency was waiting for the school to tell them if they were going to handle the incident in-house.
In the call log provided to The Ledger, it said, “Senior prank was done at school. Made contact with Robert who is listed as a representative.”
“From what was observed nothing was damaged,” the log said. “Robert advised that’s fine, as long as nothing is broken they will handle it in the morning.”
In follow-up emails on Wednesday, Horstman confirmed an ongoing investigation had commenced.
“There are several interviews still to be done and videos to review, so the investigation is ongoing,” she said.
By Thursday morning, the Sheriff’s Office said it was notified the school would determine what consequences the students will face.
“I’m being told the school is choosing to handle this in-house, with no criminal charges,” Horstman said.
In her email Thursday, Fagan, the school’s spokesperson, also addressed some of the concerns shared by parents regarding the extent of consequences, as well as rumors that a teacher was sent to the hospital after being injured by a door or gate that was off its hinge.
“There were no hospitalizations, there will be no delay in graduation and no expulsions in case you heard otherwise,” she said.
“We are compassionate towards our Wildcats, especially those that are anxiously awaiting to launch into their next life endeavors. We look forward to celebrating them all at their upcoming graduation on May 15th.”
A school with a stellar reputation reveals entrenched
Stellar? You have never sat on their side lines during a sporting event or played against them. Across the county, they are the school mostly likely to fight when loosing. Their parents constantly screaming foul disrespectful comments. As a Coach, I refused to play this school at the end of my career. Entitlement breeds strong here. I personally know several Teachers, some that taught (I use lightly) my children. Mckeel is not what they seem, and their reputation is because they have parents that demand a partial education. This is no different than those of use that have our children in AP or Polk State Class. My children graduated from Polk Public School, now Doctor and Engineer.
Criminal mischief is very serious. Yet another group of boys were dismissed and prosecuted for having a small amount of marijuana in their cars across the street from the school. An LPD officer said LPD tried to get the school to drop charges but the school refused. These boys were also seniors—honor students—and their future has been severely impacted!!!