Londonderry’s JV Cheer Team to Return Despite Ongoing Bullying Accusations

Bullying is never justified – no matter the time, place, or reason. So naturally, the act of bullying must be met with severe disciplinary action. Bullying carries lasting consequences – be it emotional, mental, or physical. It scars emotions, erodes self-esteem, and fosters fear. So it was not at all surprising that the Londonderry School Board took reports of bullying on its very premises very seriously. The school is looking into the matter and has suspended those accused of bullying.

While they have been cleared of any wrongdoing, Londonderry’s varsity team will remain on suspension until Monday, October 9. And there’s more good news! Londonderry’s junior varsity cheerleading team was reinstated as of Monday, Sept. 25.

Investigations into Bullying

School Board Chair Bob Slater prepared a statement, which said that the school would be updated about the case in the private session. The session will determine what the next course of action will be with the team. While Slater acknowledged how far the case has proceeded, there is still much more to be investigated by the school. While 20 people have already been interviewed, about 12 are still remaining, he said.

According to the investigations, two high school cheerleading teams were suspended for bullying. The investigation revealed that the coaching staff, student-athletes, and parents were all accused of creating a “toxic and pervasive culture of bullying, harassment, and discrimination. Since this revelation, the parents of the cheerleaders have put out their own statement. They claim this statement was premature and reflected badly on the teams’ young women.

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While the cheerleaders have returned, it’s not being received particularly well. Personnel on campus have been vocal about their disapproval of this return. While some claim the experience will build character, others believe that they need to be cautious to be seen in the best light possible.

JV Team makes a Return

Now, after weeks of agony and concern, the Junior Varsity team will be allowed to practice and perform in the school. However, the team’s situation will be reevaluated.  According to Slater, the school board remains limited in its capacity to take any action at this moment in time. “That’s where we have to stay this evening, unfortunately, until we get further info from our attorney,” Slater said.

While this situation is yet to develop, it is very fortunate for the JV team to be back in action. Meanwhile, we’re only too interested to know the kind of precedent this will set for such cases going forward. While investigations are still underway, we could still expect to see more suspensions and other forms of action. Regardless, we wish the JV team the very best in their upcoming competitions while keeping our eyes on the case.

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