GCPS Looks to Punish Those Involved in Intolerable Acts at Jan 26 Game
According to a press release issued by Granville County Public Schools and Dr. Stan Winborn, Public Information Officer, the school system is working closely with law enforcement to investigate an incident this past Friday, January 26, 2018, at a Varsity Girls Basketball game.
The press release provided to WIZS News is listed below in its entirety.
GCPS Athletic Event
We expect safe and respectful decorum from our students, staff, parents and guests to our schools at all times. There are consequences when individuals choose not to live up to this standard.
We also expect all student athletes to conduct themselves with dignity, sportsmanship and respect for others. Their behavior is a reflection of their school and our district, and as such, they should consider themselves role models for other students, and will be held to a higher standard.
The senior administration and school administrators of Granville County Public Schools are working closely with law enforcement officials to thoroughly investigate an incident that occurred at the Varsity Girls Basketball game this past Friday evening between JF Webb High School and Granville Central High School. Video footage, still photos and eyewitness accounts are all being reviewed as part of this process.
The behavior of the students and spectators who participated in these acts of disruption and violence is absolutely unacceptable, and will not be tolerated. Individuals will receive consequences according to the discipline policies of Granville County Board of Education, The North Carolina High School Athletic Association, and NC criminal law. All players who left the bench will be suspended for at least the next four games, and will receive additional in-school disciplinary consequences. Both teams will forfeit the January 26 game; the NCHSAA will likely impose additional consequences on the school, including playoff suspensions and possibly a fine. The school system also reserves the right to bar individual spectators from future sporting events and other school activities based on disruptive or unsafe behavior, after a review of the incident footage.
The safety and security of our students, staff and community in our schools is our absolute priority. This extends beyond the school day and across all school-related events, including athletics. Additional security and law enforcement presence will be considered for subsequent events.
Appropriate student conduct is the foundation of a positive, nurturing learning environment. We also expect our community to support us in this effort. We will continue to work closely with our partners in law enforcement to take all available measures to ensure these expectations are upheld in the future.