By Dave Russell
An undetermined number of Smoky Mountain High School students are Mustangs in the doghouse following a senior prank administrators say went too far, and a local attorney says it is time for a new school superintendent.
The youth took it so far – sneaking into the building and getting into minor mischief – the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office has filed charges against some of the students. With more expected.
The May 16 incident began when students were allowed to perform supervised senior pranks, like filling the front office with balloons, wrapping plastic wrap around some items, painting windows with washable paint, moving some desks into hallways.
Those “have-a-little-fun” pranks went according to plan, according to a letter addressed to Smoky Mountain High School students and families apparently written by Jackson County School Superintendent Dana Ayers and also signed by SMHS Principal Evelyn Graning.
Apparently some of the youth were not done pranking when told to leave.
“It is the actions after leaving the building, and it was secured by staff, that are irresponsible and illegal,” Ayers wrote. “Students were directed to leave campus but they returned and re-entered the building without permission and trespassed on campus and committed illegal acts.”
Some students climbed in windows to carry on.
“The activities that occurred after the ‘permitted prank’ were zip-tying desks together, painting the spirit rock and toilet-papering the school inside and the entrance,” Ayers said in a follow-up interview. “The biggest issue is the illegal actions – entering the school without permission, trespassing and vandalism.”
No damage, such as paint on the carpet or baseball bats gone wild in the computer room was reported.
Asked exactly what was damaged and how much it cost to repair, Ayers said, “Doesn’t matter the cost, it was the time to clean up and the days of time spent investigating.”
The prank resulted in law enforcement pressing charges “with my full support” Ayers’ letter reads.
It also states consequences could include being excluded from graduation.
Parents of some of the involved students were initially told their kids would not walk the stage during graduation ceremonies.
“Ultimately that decision is made by me in consultation with Mrs. Graning,” Ayers said. “The Board of Education does not make the decision.”
“Exclusion from graduation ceremonies” is among 14 punishments for minor violations of the Student Code of Conduct.
The students will be allowed to walk the graduation stage, Ayers said.
“It has been a long week of investigative work that has consumed an exorbitant amount of time that should have been spent focusing on instruction, school safety and preparing for testing and graduation ceremonies,” Ayers wrote. “I am disappointed by the actions of students and disheartened by the community uproar surrounding the illegal incident.”
Pushback
The uproar has been loud. Parents have hired at least one lawyer and pushed to meet with school administration. Some parents of the youth involved and others went to social media to vent their frustration at what they see as essentially an overzealous prosecution.
“This is absolutely ridiculous!!” wrote Holly Silvers. “I’ve heard of some wild senior pranks in the past, and this doesn’t come close.”
“This will affect every college and job application in their future,” said Becky Parton. “Don’t ruin their chances to make better futures for themselves!”
“What Has This World Come Too?” Dustin Hayes asked. “Seniors Can’t Even Do A Prank? Leave These Young Adults Alone Its A Tradition To Have A Senior Prank!!!! FREE THE SENIORS!!!!!!!! I Can Only Imagine What Hezakiah Will Dream Up Best Be Prepared For That!!!!!!”
Sylva lawyer Jay Pavey represents “some, maybe many, maybe all” of those who stand accused, he said Monday. “Some for sure.”
A Friday meeting with Ayers and parents was postponed until 4:30 Tuesday afternoon when the board attorney could be present, Pavey said.
“I think it’s extremely over the top given that there was no damage or anything of that nature,” Pavey said before that meeting. “If they had gone in and busted up stuff and broke things, I would not be saying a word, but they pulled a prank.”
He was the only speaker to address the regular Board of Education meeting.
“Their egregious act is that they toilet-papered some of the hallways and they took some chairs out of a classroom and zip-tied them, and that was the extent,” he told the board. “Nothing was damaged, nothing was broken, no one was hurt. And as a result, the school administration feels the necessity to file criminal charges against these individuals.”
Pavey discussed the issue with the DA’s office, he said.
“They were stunned,” he said. “They said ‘You’re kidding me?’ They are just in total disbelief.”
The DA’s office relayed to him that the matter would be settled via community service.
Pavey had asked school administration if community service had been considered, he said.
Told no, he asked “But you could?” He told the board the response was “Yes, but we’re not going to. Because we want to teach these children a lesson.”
It’s not a fitting cap on what was for some a 13-year educational journey through JCPS, he said.
“Not only are we going to give them a diploma in one hand, a number of them are going to get criminal charges in the other, because we refuse to look at the alternative of ‘Let’s go make them sweat on a Saturday. Let’s go find a good community project for them.’ Because that’s what’s going to happen when it goes up to court, but the leadership refuses to do that.”
Feels Ayers should go
After the meeting Pavey reiterated his call for community service and his words got stronger.
“The attitude of the superintendent is just stunning to me,” he said. “It’s like she has gone down this rabbit hole and she is not coming out of it. She’s entrenched. She said she is taken aback by the community response. That should tell you something. That should tell you that reasonable people are looking at this and saying ‘What the hell is wrong with you?’”
Pavey continued to express his disdain for Ayers and her decision.
“If I were on the board, I would fire her over this,” he said. “This is so over-the-top.”
Pavey, who served 22 years in the Air Force, is a strong believer in law and order, he said.
“I’m a rule follower,” he said. “I would not have been involved in this situation. But these are kids who have waited 13 years for this moment.”
How many students are involved and face charges is unknown as of press time. Emails to the Sheriff’s Office were not returned. According to parents, misdemeanor charges have been filed.
“Once the charges are filed, law enforcement and the DA will determine consequences,” Ayers said. “I have not been in contact with the DA. The DA can order community service which I expect and hope occurs. It is out of our hands and in the hands of the court system which I respect.”
Arrest warrants for those 18 and older are public record, available to anyone.
Across the country youth are taking part in the rite of passage.
Some take it too far. A group last Thursday at Burns High School in Cleveland County – given keys to the school by the principal to do supervised pranks – threw plants and a microwave and other items in toilets.
The Union County Sheriff’s Office is charging two people with vandalism resulting at Sun Valley High School last week.
They poured honey into electrical outlets and electronic devices and littered the building, doing $20,000 in damages.
