Dear Parent/Guardian:
It is with great regret that I’m writing to share with you that we have obtained additional videotape showing another Middletown Area High School Football hazing incident which took place inside our heat acclimation room. Unfortunately, this video demonstrates that this hazing was much more widespread, and involved many more students, than we had previously known.
In light of this, we have made the decision to cancel the 2022 football season. I know this decision will be met with many different opinions and emotions and will impact many students and families.
We have shared the new video with law enforcement officials and will continue to work to complete our own investigation. Any students found to have participated in this incident will be disciplined in accordance with our student code of conduct and hazing policy. Any staff members who were found to have ignored this kind of hazing will also face disciplinary action.
The kind of hazing that occurred in our facilities with this team is reprehensible. It simply cannot and will not be tolerated. We know we must work to address the culture of this team, educate our student body about hazing, and put programs in place to help us ensure that this kind of atmosphere is never allowed to exist in our school facilities.
Our administrative team and athletic director will work to find other opportunities this fall for our cheerleading team and marching band, since they will be impacted by this season cancellation. We will also work to make alternative plans for Homecoming, which is typically scheduled around a football game.
We’ll communicate additional information as we’re able to do so, and as we work through this investigation.
Again, I know this is difficult news. We’ll work to bring our school community together in a positive manner as we move forward into the new school year.
Sincerely,
Dr. Chelton Hunter
Superintendent of Schools