[FONT="][h=1]5 Creston high school students wearing hoods in online photo are off the football team, coach says[/h]
By Jay Withrow / World-Herald staff writer
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By Jay Withrow / World-Herald staff writer
[*=center]Sep 8, 2017 Updated 1 hr ago
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In this screen shot image taken from Twitter, five men wearing white hoods wave a Confederate flag next to a burning cross. The principal of Creston Community High School in southern Iowa says the school has disciplined several students who appeared in the photo, which circulated on social media, after officials became aware of it on Wednesday morning, Sept. 6, 2017. (Twitter via AP)
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Creston Community High School
[*=center]ANDREW J. NELSON/THE WORLD-HERALD
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[FONT="]The five Creston, Iowa, Community High School students who appeared in an online photo showing them wearing white hoods and standing beside a burning cross no longer are members of the football team, the team's coach said.[/FONT]
[FONT="]The Des Moines Register reported that Creston coach Brian Morrison said discipline on the matter was "ongoing. My stance is that they’re off the team."[/FONT]
[FONT="]Morrison said he had spoken with all the parents involved. He also said attorneys had gotten involved in the case.[/FONT]
[FONT="]"Litigation is what it is," he said Thursday evening. "At this point tonight, they’re not with us."[/FONT]
[FONT="]The school district said it was unable to describe the discipline the students faced, citing student privacy laws.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Several people in town, however, told The World-Herald that the students had received nine-day suspensions.[/FONT]
[FONT="]The football players in the picture weren’t at practice Wednesday, Kylan Smallwood, the team’s quarterback, told The World-Herald. He said the players had been booted from the team.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Creston residents expressed a mixture of surprise, embarrassment and disgust after a photo that was posted online Wednesday showed five students in Ku Klux Klan hoods. The photo also shows one of the students holding a rifle with a scope on it, and another is holding what looks to be a Confederate flag.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Creston is about 100 miles east of Council Bluffs and about 70 miles southwest of Des Moines.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Friday morning, the high school issued this written statement:[/FONT]
[FONT="]"The Creston Community School District is committed to providing a positive and respectful learning environment for students. As an educational institution, we strive to promote civil discourse and tolerance for differing views. However, when there is a substantial disruption of or material interference with the learning environment, it is appropriate for the district to take responsive action. We are hopeful that everyone can learn from this situation as we continue working to provide our students the best educational opportunities we can.’’
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[FONT="]The Des Moines Register reported that Creston coach Brian Morrison said discipline on the matter was "ongoing. My stance is that they’re off the team."[/FONT]
[FONT="]Morrison said he had spoken with all the parents involved. He also said attorneys had gotten involved in the case.[/FONT]
[FONT="]"Litigation is what it is," he said Thursday evening. "At this point tonight, they’re not with us."[/FONT]
[FONT="]The school district said it was unable to describe the discipline the students faced, citing student privacy laws.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Several people in town, however, told The World-Herald that the students had received nine-day suspensions.[/FONT]
[FONT="]The football players in the picture weren’t at practice Wednesday, Kylan Smallwood, the team’s quarterback, told The World-Herald. He said the players had been booted from the team.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Creston residents expressed a mixture of surprise, embarrassment and disgust after a photo that was posted online Wednesday showed five students in Ku Klux Klan hoods. The photo also shows one of the students holding a rifle with a scope on it, and another is holding what looks to be a Confederate flag.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Creston is about 100 miles east of Council Bluffs and about 70 miles southwest of Des Moines.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Friday morning, the high school issued this written statement:[/FONT]
[FONT="]"The Creston Community School District is committed to providing a positive and respectful learning environment for students. As an educational institution, we strive to promote civil discourse and tolerance for differing views. However, when there is a substantial disruption of or material interference with the learning environment, it is appropriate for the district to take responsive action. We are hopeful that everyone can learn from this situation as we continue working to provide our students the best educational opportunities we can.’’
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