WALKER, MI - The Kenowa Hills High School principal who suspended 65 seniors Tuesday for an unauthorized bike ride to school and banned them from their final senior walk around campus is apologizing today.
“Yesterday, I made a mistake and sincerely regret my actions," said Katie Pennnington, in a statement. "Did I overreact? In retrospect, of course I did. My first response to learning of our high school seniors riding bikes to school on busy roads was to fear for their safety, and I responded in kind."
" I apologize to the students, their parents, and the community for a reaction that blew this incident out of proportion and called into question the character of our students. Our senior class has demonstrated leadership, unity and school pride throughout this school year."
The 3-mile ride was treated as a prank -- something students were forbidden to engage in on their last day of school -- not the organized, spirited send-off students and parents described it as. Pennington was criticized for overreacting and the tone she later used in reprimanding students.
The suspensions drew national media attention and a crowd at the school board meeting last night.
On Tuesday, Pennington said the students backed up traffic, delaying teachers and buses to schools. Her ire came despite the fact the students were riding with a Walker Police escort and the Walker mayor was on hand with doughnuts.
"My actions and emotion overshadowed what should have been a very positive senior activity," Pennington said. "I have learned much from this experience and do not consider myself infallible. “I now applaud the students for their foresight in contacting the police department to ensure the safety of their senior surprise. "
Students asked and received a police escort for the from the Walker Fitness and Ice Center, 4151 Remembrance Road NW, to the high school at 3825 Hendershot Ave. NW. Walker Mayor Rob VerHeulen rode in the police cruiser.
Neither the mayor nor police were aware the event had not been authorized by the school. Walker police is now checking to see how they learned of the event.
Pennington said she only wished the police department or others who may have known about the event would have let them in on the surprise but, of course, it wouldn’t have been a surprise than.
She has since rescheduled another senior walk to make up for the one the suspended students missed on Tuesday.
“I look forward to our second ‘Senior Walk’ and our Commencement for this senior class. It will be a celebration of their accomplishment and recognition of their creativity," she said.
Kenowa Hills Public Schools Superintendent Gerald Hopkins said he spoke with VerHeulen, and they pledged to continue working together in the best interest of the community.
“Our first responsibility is for the safety of our students, and I certainly support Katie’s initial concern for their well-being," he said. "The decision to send participating students home was one that was jointly made by Katie and me based on the information we had at the time."
“As I look back on this incident, I realize this was an adult problem, not a student problem."
He said the adults in school administration, the police department and city administration didn’t communicate as well as they could, and he takes responsibility as the superintendent for ensuring better communication in the future.
"We will learn from this and be stronger for it," he said. " I apologize to the students, parents and community for not having arrived at a better solution. I’m sure our seniors will be successful as they ride off into the future, which is our goal for all of them, and I look forward to celebrating their accomplishments at our Commencement exercises later this month.”
The school is graduating around 300 seniors on June 6. A second senior walk is scheduled for May 30 with the entire senior class.
Email: mscott2@mlive.com and follow her on Twitter at Twitter.com/GRPScotty.
