Superintendent expects charges in Riverton hazing allegations
RIVERTON — A proposed expulsion of three former members of Riverton High School’s wrestling team has been delayed for months amid legal challenges by the boys’ attorneys.
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RIVERTON — A proposed expulsion of three former members of Riverton High School’s wrestling team has been delayed for months amid legal challenges by the boys’ attorneys.
Meanwhile, a separate investigation into the students’ conduct for an alleged hazing incident by the Natrona County Sheriff’s Office has continued.
Fremont County School District 25 superintendent Terry Snyder said he’s “not aware of their findings” but he “expect(s) there will be charges.”
The incident is alleged to have taken place on a school bus in Natrona County in early January. Snyder first recommended expulsion that same month.
Typically, school boards are required to make a decision on proposed expulsions within 15 days of a student’s suspension. However, that requirement has been waived by the students’ lawyers in this case amid their challenges to the district’s case.
The school denied a motion on Feb. 27 for administrators to provide unredacted records in the case.
“What that means is they’re asking us to release the names of the victims,” Snyder said.
A stay on the case has been issued while district court Judge Marvin Tyler considers whether to force the school district to release the victims’ names to the accused.
He’s now set to rule May 30 whether to consider that request.
If he denies the request, expulsion proceedings can resume. If he decides to consider the request, expulsion proceedings will continue to be delayed while school administrators and the suspended students’ lawyers make their arguments to the judge.
Snyder said releasing the alleged victims’ names would be a violation of their privacy protections under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972.
Snyder said the “delay creates confusion” in the community but he remains “very steadfast with recommending a full-year expulsion” for the students in question.
“That’s unchanged and will remain unchanged,” he said.
Currently, a full-year expulsion for the students would end with the 2018 calendar year.
If a decision on expulsion isn’t made until after the end of the current 2017-18 academic year, Snyder said it’s unlikely a full-year expulsion would be able to be extended into 2019.
“I’m not sure if there’s precedent for that,” he said. “I don’t believe that’s possible — not that we won’t explore that.”
As a result of the hazing incident, Snyder said has “established specific revised bus trip supervised protocols for all sponsors and coaches.”
Once expulsion proceedings are complete, Snyder said administrators will review whether the supervision in the wrestling incident was adequate under previous policies.
