Cheerleader Hazing

carnation · #1 08-21-2005, 12:06 PM

Polk teacher files federal lawsuit against county school board, superintendent

08/18/05

A Polk County teacher filed a federal lawsuit Thursday against Polk County Schools Superintendent Darrell Sorrells and members of the county school board after she was placed on administrative leave with pay. Rhonda Lindsey, a teacher with the school system and a cheerleading coach, was placed on administrative leave with pay on Aug. 12 after allegations arose that nude pictures of some members of the Cedartown High School cheerleading squad had been taken, according to the lawsuit, which was filed in U.S. District Court in Rome. Neither Sorrells nor any school board member has evidence that such photos exist, according to the lawsuit. Lindsey is asking for unspecified punitive damages and that she be allowed to return to work. Another teacher/coach has also been placed on administrative leave with pay, Sorrells said Wednesday. Sorrells said late Thursday he had not seen the lawsuit and declined to comment.
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This is the big stink in a nearby county. One of our cheerleaders here says that the Cedartown cheerleaders sneaked out of the dorm at camp and made their new members strip, then covered them with shaving cream and took pictures. They then made them run and jump in a nearby lake and now the sponsors, who were of course asleep in the middle of the night, are being blamed. You see what happened.

The other coach is now suing as well. I don't blame them! How can you keep a watch on kids-even your own-24/7? Post a hired guard? You can't blame the sponsors of Natalee Holloway's trip if she sneaked out in the middle of the night nor should these teachers be blamed. Otherwise, we'll all have to hire security guards when our kids have sleepovers.

If the shaving cream incident did take place, the girls need to take the blame, not the adults. Plus, the superintendent was pretty stupid to have lowered the boom without proof.

FSUZeta · #2 08-21-2005, 12:15 PM

good grief!! hope they get to the bottom of this and the correct parties are disciplined.

carnation · #3 08-21-2005, 12:20 PM

08/20/05
By Marc Dadigan/Rome News-Tribune Staff Writer

A second Cedartown High School cheerleading coach sued the Polk County School District on Friday, accusing Superintendent Darrell Sorrells of unfairly suspending her because of unsubstantiated allegations that nude photographs were taken of cheerleaders.

Amber Fuqua, a Rockmart resident, asked for monetary damages and to return to her teaching duties after Sorrells placed her and fellow cheerleading coach Rhonda Lindsey on administrative leave with pay Aug. 12.

That same day, according to the suit filed in federal court, Sorrells met with both women asking them about their handling of cheerleading funds and about the alleged photographs.

Sorrells declined to comment Friday evening, saying he had been advised by his attorney not to discuss the issue.

Polk school board member Bobby Brooks stated Friday he had not seen any of the alleged photographs. Other board members contacted declined to comment.

In the suit, Fuqua asserts that no such photos exist and that Sorrells and the school system never had any evidence of their existence.

She also accuses the school district of violating her rights of due process by suspending her without a written notification and a hearing as required by Georgia law.

A superintendent can suspend a teacher for as many as 10 days without a hearing if the teacher is deemed a danger to students, but there still must be written notification, according to Georgia state law.

Fuqua also states in her suit that the school district failed to provide her with witness statements and other evidence collected during the investigation.

After the two coaches were placed on leave, the suit charges, the school district “engaged” attorney Brian Smith of Gainesville to complete the investigation in an alleged effort to subvert open record laws.

Smith did not return a call to his office Friday afternoon seeking comment.

Fuqua also charges in the suit that she was slandered by comments the school board and Sorrells made to the news media about the case.

Lindsey filed a similar lawsuit Thursday and also is seeking monetary damages and reinstatement.
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I think that Polk County Schools, the super, and their lawyer are going to regret this...

Tom Earp · #4 08-21-2005, 03:06 PM

While this is still bad, at least it takes some Heat off of Greeks.

SO, it does happen outside of Greek Life as if We did not know!

PhiPsiRuss · #5 08-21-2005, 03:17 PM

Terrible! Absolutely terrible!

Does anyone have a link to the pictures?

hoosier · #6 08-22-2005, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by PhiPsiRuss
Terrible! Absolutely terrible!

Does anyone have a link to the pictures?

Try badjocks.com or Smoking Gun.

These teachers are toast, unless they are members of GAE - the teachers union.

tunatartare · #7 08-22-2005, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by hoosier
Try badjocks.com or Smoking Gun.

These teachers are toast, unless they are members of GAE - the teachers union.

Why?

carnation · #8 08-22-2005, 05:10 PM

I'm sure they're in GAE or PAGE.

PsychTau2 · #9 08-22-2005, 05:51 PM

Let me tell you this...if I was the coach and these were MY cheerleaders and they weren't stepping forward and taking responsibility for their actions (assuming that the hazing actually happened), I'd be SUPER pissed.

Let's hope everything works out in the best interest of all.

PsychTau

wrigley · #10 08-22-2005, 06:05 PM

What kind of punishment would the students get if they were found guilty of hazing?

Tom Earp · #11 08-23-2005, 06:20 PM

Got To LOVE THE SOUTH and priorities!