Oregon high school students who jammed hallway with hundreds of desks will be allowed to walk in graduation, says principal
Students who broke into their school to pull a massive prank by moving all furniture into the hallway have been asked to 'make amends' and will be allowed to attend their graduation ceremony.
Gladstone High School Principal Kevin Taylor said the students who were involved in a senior prank last week will walk in their graduation ceremony on Wednesday. The students were previously disallowed from walking at their graduation, with the principal announcing he would charge each of those involved with a $50 fine to cover the cost of cleaning up the mess they created.
The students reportedly illegally entered the school early Friday morning and convinced a custodian to open rooms for them so they could carry out a prank, according to the principal of Gladstone High School, which is located about 12 miles south of Portland.
More than three dozen students were part of the plan, which saw them move hundreds of desks out of the classrooms and into the hallway, per KGW-TV. According to the outlet, they also replaced classroom erasers with hotdogs.
Kevin Taylor, the principal, wrote in an email to parents on Friday that the prank was a "breach in trust" and rather "disrespectful" to the staff, adding that he planned to charge each of the 44 students involved about $47 to cover cleanup costs.
“Students were warned during at least two different senior meetings that if they participated in a senior prank, consequences could be up to and including students not walking graduation night,” Taylor wrote. “It was also stated that vandalism may be addressed by the police.”
According to Taylor, some students got on the school's roof using a ladder and notified other students once they made their way into the courtyard. “This is referred to as breaking and entering,” he wrote in the letter.
The students then "manipulated and abused" the custodian and got him to open classrooms for them.
“He thought they were continuing some part of senior events and graduation and a surprise for teachers,” Taylor wrote. “Some students told him the furniture they were moving out would be put back.”
The pupils then proceeded to move hundreds of desks out of classrooms and placed them in three different hallways, thereby blocking the halls.
“This year, GHS upgraded the cameras and all of the students were easily identified on video,” Taylor continued in the email.
Staff members had to work together and move all the furniture back into the rooms. This, in turn, obstructed their plans to prepare for the day or grade papers.
“Factoring in staff hours and costs to move furniture and reset the building, the total is $2,092.32,” Taylor told parents in the email, adding that the cost would be divided among the miscreants.
Meanwhile, Lorrie Dye, a grandmother of one of the seniors involved told KGW she "thought it was a great prank" and that "it didn't hurt anybody."
In her opinion, it would be "terrible" not to allow the students to walk in their graduation or to force them to pay nearly $50 because of the prank.
“The final determination of consequences beside cost will be considered over the weekend,” Taylor wrote in conclusion. “Further information about consequences will be communicated on Monday.”