By Stephen Smoot
Last Thursday night, the Pendleton County Board of Education heard an appeal from an area resident appealing suspension from events on school grounds. The hearing was held under Pendleton County Board of Education Policy 9160.
That policy states that “the Board holds the legal authority to bar the attendance of or remove any person whose conduct may constitute a disruption at a school event. School administrators have the authority to call law enforcement officials if a person violates posted regulations or does not leave school property when requested. Persons who violate posted regulations or do not leave school property when requested are, and shall be treated as trespassers. They are also authorized to use detectors and other devices to better ensure the safety and well-being of participants and visitors.
Persons who exhibit disruptive behavior at extracurricular activities may be subject to removal by the principal or his/her designee or law enforcement officers. Following an investigation of the incident, the principal may suspend the individual’s privilege to attend extracurricular activities at the school for a period up to 365 days. The affected individual shall be notified in writing and the Superintendent will also receive a written notification including justification for the action. Persons who are suspended have the right to appeal the suspension to the Board of Education, which has the authority to decrease or increase the length of the suspension. (WVC §61-6-14)”
The meeting took place with the board of education, the board’s counsel who was present to ensure laws were followed properly, and Derek Lambert, principal of Pendleton County Middle/High School. Romeo Perez, present to appeal the suspension, was there along with his wife, Bethany.
Both the board and Perez assented to hold the meeting in public. Perez had the legal option to choose a closed-door executive session.
Lambert was asked to share what he saw. He briefly described the incident, which took place during the football playoff game on Nov. 14. “Toward the end of the game, I notified local law enforcement that their help was needed.”
Next, the timeline of communications between the different parties was shared, including those requesting and establishing the appeal.
Perez also took the opportunity to share his side of what transpired. He also brought a video recording taken from Facebook of the event that showed visually, but not audibly, what occurred. He reported an ongoing situation between his family and that of another that had escalated over time.
The presentation made by Perez included allegations that one of the other party repeatedly used a highly charged racial slur generally used against black Americans. He also stated that the other individual “put his forehead to my forehead and said, ‘what are you going to do now, ______?”’
Lambert explained that “I, other than people seeing the video on Facebook, I’m one of the only people that witnessed most of the actions that transpired.” He added “that language was addressed in a manner, which collaboratively with (Superintendent) Nicole (Hevener) was most appropriate . . . there were multiple things addressed there that night. This is the only one that’s being appealed.”
In a previously composed statement that he read aloud, Perez noted, “I’m not here to excuse any of my actions . . . (or) minimize what occurred.” He requested to be allowed to watch his children play in basketball games at the schools, watch his daughter compete in the Trout Fest pageant, and see his sister-in-law graduate from high school. His wife also spoke on his behalf.
Board members deliberated first in executive session. They voted to give him access to the online Hudl program until the end of the season to watch the basketball games at home. He was also permitted to attend the pageant and, provided there were no incidents there, could also attend graduation.
