N.H. highschool cheerleading program shut down attributable to alleged ‘bullying, harassment, and discrimination’ tradition

Colleges

Londonderry Superintendent Daniel Black mentioned in a letter to households that the “extraordinarily regarding allegations” are in opposition to college students, coaches, and oldsters.

A New Hampshire highschool’s cheerleading program has been shut down attributable to allegations of bullying and harassment involving each this system’s college students and adults.

On Thursday, the Londonderry College Board voted unanimously to droop the highschool’s cheerleading program efficient instantly, in line with a letter to households from Superintendent Daniel Black.

“College officers have lately turn into conscious of extraordinarily regarding allegations relating to a poisonous and pervasive tradition of bullying, harassment, and discrimination on the Londonderry Excessive College Cheerleading Squad,” Black wrote. “Sadly, these allegations embody the whole cheerleading
program, together with the teaching employees, pupil athletes, and oldsters.”

College officers are within the means of hiring an impartial investigator to look into the allegations, the superintendent wrote. The college board will determine whether or not the cheerleading program will proceed for the remainder of the season on Sept. 25.

The college’s cheerleading coaches have been positioned on administrative go away till the investigation concludes, Black wrote. College directors assist these selections by the varsity board, he mentioned.

“Participation in extracurricular actions is a privilege, and we maintain student-athletes in Londonderry to excessive requirements,” the superintendent wrote. “…After we obtain allegations {that a} program’s total tradition is perpetuating mistreatment of scholars, we should act swiftly.”

Black clarified that as of but, no wrongdoing has been discovered. If the investigation finds that misconduct has occurred, college directors will deal with it by “typical disciplinary channels,” he mentioned.

“Each administrator and College Board member in Londonderry has the shared purpose of serving to college students reach a caring, supportive studying setting,” the superintendent wrote. “The place the integrity of that setting has been compromised, it’s incumbent upon all of us to find out what went unsuitable and the way we repair it.”

Black didn’t give any specifics concerning the allegations or when college officers have been alerted to them.

You possibly can learn the superintendent’s letter in full under: