APS Teammates:

I am writing to alert you about an incident involving some members of the Hinkley High School soccer team. Student safety is our top priority at Hinkley High School and throughout Aurora Public Schools. Thank you for your support on behalf of Hinkley staff, students and parents.

On Sept. 30, 2009, Hinkley High School staff received a report about an incident involving inappropriate physical contact between some members of the Hinkley High School junior varsity and varsity soccer teams.

Because the safety of our students is our first priority, we immediately began investigating the report. We also contacted police and are working closely with them as they conduct an independent investigation.

We have zero tolerance for inappropriate physical behavior and harassment of any kind. We also fully comply with CRS 18-9-124 and APS Policy JK1-R.

Hinkley High School and Aurora Public Schools staff members have interviewed students who may have been involved and the adults who were supervising them. Although we are unable to discuss specific disciplinary action due to privacy laws, we can say that the discipline will include expulsions and suspensions of students.

Because of FERPA (Family Education Rights and Privacy Act), all APS personnel need to protect the privacy of our students and not release information about any of those involved.

I want to assure parents, students, and staff and community members that inappropriate physical behavior or harassment in any form is a violation of Aurora Public Schools policy and state law and will not be tolerated.

Because of privacy laws, we are unable to tell you what disciplinary action is being taken against employees responsible for the supervision of the students involved, but I want to emphasize that we take this very seriously and that this discipline will be appropriate. Employee disciplinary action may range from reprimand and suspension up to termination.

Hinkley High School and Aurora Public Schools staff members will also continue work with parents to help them discuss this matter with their children and provide any support needed, including support from our incident response counseling team.

We are reviewing and strengthening our policies and practices related to student conduct. We immediately reviewed our supervision procedures and made changes to our event supervision practices. We have met with all coaches to discuss appropriate student conduct and to reiterate our policies. Coaches are also reviewing appropriate student conduct and our policies during athletics practices with students.

We will also review our safety reporting practices with students and staff to ensure that they know we will not tolerate inappropriate physical behavior or harassment in any form, and we’ll remind them how to anonymously report concerns:

• Students can confidentially report concerns to any staff member.
• They can report online anonymously at SafeNet, www.aps.k12.co.us/safenet/form.htm.
• They can submit anonymous concerns at SafeNet comment boxes at all of our high schools.
• They can also anonymously report via Safe 2 Tell at 1-877-542- SAFE (1-877-542-7233).

I assure parents, staff, students and our community that:

• We are deeply concerned by the situation involving some of our students.
• Student safety and a positive learning environment are top priorities in Aurora Public Schools.
• Our athletics program is a positive experience for students.
• The unacceptable actions of a few students must not adversely impact all of our student athletes.
• If there are any students who feel they are not safe at school or who believe they are being mistreated, we urge them to report this immediately to a parent, teacher or school staff member.
• We will not tolerate inappropriate physical behavior in Aurora Public Schools!

Thank you again for your support.

John Barry