![]() Peters Township athletic director Brian Geyer and Woodland Hills athletic director Ron Coursey are both members of the WPIAL board. The actions of band members don’t typically fall under the jurisdiction of the WPIAL, but Scheuneman noted that in this instance “it’s part of our event” since it occurred before a WPIAL playoff game. “Our office as well as the members of the WPIAL Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Council are poised to help in any way possible.” Thus, it is the sincere hope of WPIAL’s Board of Directors that this unfortunate event can spark real change in the Peters Township School District,” the WPIAL wrote. “WPIAL believes something positive can come out of every situation. The WPIAL encouraged Peters Township administrators to meet with members of the WPIAL Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Council. “They are committed to educating the members of their band as well as potentially a greater population (of students in the school),” she said. The WPIAL placed Peters Township on probation for one year and the school’s administration was publicly censured for “lack of institutional control for knowing and/or supporting unsportsmanlike conduct.” Scheuneman said the school district already has issued an apology to Woodland Hills. “The investigation also revealed that there were multiple missed opportunities for adults present at the game to address the costumes prior to the students entering the field.”īelcher said the district sees the incident as an opportunity for positive change. “Nonetheless, their choice of costumes, in the context of the game, was insensitive,” spokesperson Shelly Belcher said in an email. Peters Township superintendent Jeannine French could not immediately be reached for comment.Ī district spokesperson said Peters Township’s investigation found the students “acted without racist or harmful intent.” In addition to the ban, the WPIAL requested that Peters Township impose “appropriate discipline or other rectifying actions” against its band director “to ensure similar incidents do not occur in the future.” The WPIAL discipline precludes a pep band at basketball games. “The suspension shall be no less than 6 months from the date of this letter to allow for proper planning and training to occur.” “The Peters Township marching band is prohibited from attending or performing at any WPIAL athletic events until the educational training is completed,” the WPIAL wrote in its statement announcing the discipline. ![]() The board unanimously approved those recommendations Monday but waited to reveal them publicly until after speaking with school administrators. The WPIAL Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Council reviewed documents submitted by each school district, “had lengthy discussions on appropriate actions” and made recommendations to the WPIAL board, Scheuneman said. “Even though the costumes may not have been intended to harm anyone, students, coaches and spectators from Woodland Hills were negatively impacted - regardless of the intent,” WPIAL executive director Amy Scheuneman said. Woodland Hills administrators raised concerns about the suits being racially insensitive and resembling “blackface.” 30 incident at Peters Township where two drum majors wore full-body black spandex suits before a football playoff game against Woodland Hills. The Peters Township marching band is prohibited from performing at any WPIAL event until the school district submits a plan to “eradicate the social and racial insensitivity displayed by the marching band and its director/supervisors,” the WPIAL announced Tuesday.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |