Fowlerville Community Schools found that “misconduct occurred” and “corrective and disciplinary action was warranted” following an investigation into an incident involving the high school wrestling team, according to reporting from WDIV Local 4.
However, the district stopped short of labeling the event “hazing,” writing in a letter to parents and students that the evidence didn’t substantiate hazing as defined by policy.
“The review showed that aspects of the district’s response and oversight needed to be stronger,” the letter read. “Reporting should have occurred sooner. Communication should have been more formal and better documented. Expectations for supervision and reporting also needed to be clearer.”
The mother of a now-15-year-old student previously on the high school wrestling team spoke with WDIV anonymously about the allegations of misconduct in January, telling reporters her son was urinated on by a teammate. She reportedly contacted police and Fowlerville schools.
While her son continued competing for a time, she said, he ultimately left the team. She voiced frustration with what she described as a lack of action and communication from the district, saying she informed then-wrestling coach Dan Coon and athletic director Jeff Finney.
Coon resigned from his position in January. In a text message to The Daily, he wrote: “I resigned when a couple of parents were not letting their son be held accountable for his actions.” Coon served as wrestling coach for 26 seasons over two stints and is a member of the Michigan High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
Fowlerville Superintendent Matthew Stuard announced the district had reopened an investigation in April.
According to the recent letter, the district is addressing improvements – including strengthening student safety, reporting, supervision, communication and program expectations across athletics and recreation. The changes are being overseen by Stuard and the Board of Education, “with some measures taking effect immediately and additional measures in place for the start of the upcoming school year.”
“Every student deserves to participate in programs that reflect a safe, orderly, healthy and nurturing environment,” the letter read. “This incident reinforces our responsibility to ensure these standards are consistently met across all student experiences.”
The boy’s mother told WDIV she still hasn’t received clear answers from school and district officials, and alleged the accused student remains on the team.
“(A school official) said there would be more training for the athletic director and the coaches – it’s more BS,” she told Local 4 on May 8, adding she might seek legal action or criminal charges.
— Contact reporter Evan Sasiela at esasiela@livingstondaily.com. Follow him on X @SalsaEvan.
This article originally appeared on Livingston Daily: Fowlerville schools finds ‘misconduct’ in wrestling investigation
Reporting by Evan Sasiela, Livingston Daily / Livingston Daily
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