Suspended Lehigh Senior
Players Eligible Next Week

The nine basketball players suspended at Lehigh Senior High School can return to class and the basketball court on Monday.

But the coaches are still temporary suspended from coaching duties, according to School District.

The players initially faced a five-day school suspension and were banned from athletics for the rest of the school year.

The eligibility of the players changed again Thursday afternoon after the parents of three of the nine players, along with an attorney representing one of the parents, met with Superintendent Dr. Greg Adkins and other district staff Thursday morning.

“The Superintendent has thanked the parents and Attorney Joseph North for their input and has indicated to all that he believes we are a better school district as a result of the dialogue that has occurred this week,” district spokeswoman Amity Chandler said in a statement.

The meeting resulted in the restoration of the nine basketball players’ eligibility, orders for them to complete 40 hours of community service and to create a presentation about social media awareness.

The reinstatement  of the Lehigh Lightning players came one day after a squad of mostly junior varsity players claimed a victory over Estero High School at home in a single-elimination game. The win bought the nine suspended players more time as their parents worked to appeal their controversial ban.

They will not play in a playoff game this Friday night.

The song’s lyrics crossed a line that the school district said won’t be tolerated. But some parents think the school had it right the first time.

School Board Chairman Steven Teuber on Wednesday explained why the students were suspended:

• The players were ordered by school Principal Jackie Corey to remove the video from Facebook, but after doing so, posted it on YouTube, where it gained thousands of views.
• The players were supposed to be in the stands supporting the junior varsity team, who were playing at the time the video was shot.
• The video was made while at a sporting event, which according to the state High School Athletic Association, is reason for suspension from athletic activities.
• An assistant coach who was supposed to be in the locker room while students are present was not there.
• Some of the players were wearing their team jerseys in the video.
• The district was hesitant to suspend McNew because females cannot be in the locker room while male players are changing and showering, but did so because it is her team.