Probe of graduation party continues

by Matt Unrau
| July 14, 2010 11:58 AM

The investigation, led by the Montana School Board Association (MTSBA), into the pre-graduation party in Plains on May 29 continues with the hope that a report will be available by the end of July.

The party in question was a private party located at the Sanders County Fairgrounds the night before the Plains High School graduation commencement ceremony. The party was allegedly hosted by the Plains school board chairman and three teachers, who all had students graduating from the school on Sunday.

The next morning one of the guests of the party, a graduating senior, was found inebriated in his vehicle in the parking lot of the Assembly of God Church by parishioners attending their morning services at approximately 10 a.m. according to Plains Police Chief Shawn Emmett. The 18-year-old student was cited for a DUI, MIP and an open container violation by the Plains City Police Department and then graduated with his class later that afternoon.

Immediately following the incident, allegations began to fly that underage drinking had occurred at the party at the fairgrounds prompting the Plains school board to call upon the MTSBA to conduct an independent investigation.

"There were a lot of allegations made and we don't know what's fact or fiction and they're professionals," said School Board Trustee Ron Warren. The decision to ask the MTSBA was decided at a special board meeting on June 24 called by Warren and Trustee Nick Lawyer. With Chairman John Holland absent, the board voted unanimously to turn the investigation over to MTSBA.

According to Sheriff Gene Arnold the Sanders County Sheriff's Office is also conducting their own investigation to determine whether any laws have been broken. No one has been charged by the Sheriff's Office.

In a press release issued on June 28 the board of trustees said, "After much public input and discussion of the pros and cons of conducting its own investigation, the Board of Trustees determined that it was in the best interest of the District to retain the services of the Montana School Boards Association to conduct an independent fact-finding investigation into allegations of potential wrongdoing on the part of school employees and officials at the graduation party as it relates to graduates and the possible consumption of alcohol. In light of the negative effects of alcohol on minors and the District's and community's stance on "no drinking, the Board believes taking a proactive approach to determining the facts and taking measures to address this issue is best for the students, the District and the community."

Betty Taylor, Plains high school counselor, attended the party for a brief time, and said at one point in time, she saw two students carrying unopened beers, but did not think it was "so out of the ordinary." She attributed it to a common culture for parents to ask their children to grab them a beer.

"To me it's gotten blown way out of proportion," said Taylor. "Yes we need to pay more attention [in our culture]. Let's use it for that. Let's not point fingers and be head hunters."

The father of the inebriated student found out the morning after the party and expressed his surprise to the allegations.

"As far as I know there were no minors who had anything at this party," he said.

Kerri Langoni, a Field Service Investigator with the MTSBA, is in the process of conducting interviews with the hopes of wrapping them up next week. Debra Silk, Associate Executive Director of the MTSBA, estimated at the special meeting that the investigation would cost $5,000, an amount that would be taken out of the school's general fund.

Silk added that "it is common" for the MTSBA to head investigations of alleged misconduct for school districts.

Krista Standeford with the Time for Change Coalition, says no matter what the outcome of the investigation there needs to be a change in drinking culture in Sanders County.

"No matter what happened with the party, hopefully we can clear the cloud over the school and move on. But, this is a culture issue," said Standeford.

According to a prevention needs assessment, almost 67 percent of the senior class of 2008 in Sanders County reported that they obtained alcohol in the past year from someone they knew 21 years and older.

In the same class nearly 22 percent of students reported that they have driven a vehicle drunk in the last year and more than 43 percent reported riding in the same vehicle as someone drunk.

"The problem is rising and our law enforcement is vigilant, but they need the support of the community," says Standeford.