Olentangy Schools outlines new anti-hazing training, reporting steps after Orange soccer incident

DELAWARE — Olentangy Schools leaders outlined potential improvements to the district’s hazing prevention practices Thursday while the district continues to investigate a recent incident involving the Olentangy Orange girls soccer team.

Chief Academic Officer Michelle Blackley and Executive Director of School Leadership Greta Gnagy presented a review of existing practices to the school board, identifying opportunities to strengthen prevention and reporting.

The review follows a hazing incident that led to six seniors being removed from the soccer team and three coaches being placed on leave for the remainder of the season.

“At the center of this work is a straightforward expectation: every student should be able to flourish in all Olentangy schools with dignity and confidence that they belong,” Blackley told the board.

“Students should feel welcome on a team, or in a group, in a classroom or on a field; know that they can raise a concern and trust that adults will respond. No student should have to accept hazing to belong.”

The district’s investigation remains ongoing, and additional details about individual players have not been released.

Current district policies and expectations on hazing

Gnagy said the district’s investigation revealed that the hazing event involving the Olentangy Orange girls soccer team was not an isolated incident.

Instead, she described it as “a traditional activity that has occurred for many years.”

The investigation also prompted district staff to examine how thoroughly hazing allegations are investigated, including the quality of interviews, whether all relevant witnesses are contacted, whether there was prior knowledge of hazing, documentation practices and safeguards for students.

“The questions we need to continue to seek and confirm is how consistently these expectations show up in daily practices across every school and every activity,” Gnagy said.

“The investigation has underscored the importance of how we apply our policies and training.”

Current district policies and handbooks prohibit hazing and establish “clear expectations for reporting, investigation, student support and accountability” Gnagy said.

Those expectations include conduct for joining and maintaining membership in a group, and note that participation from a victim does not make hazing permissible.

The district’s administrative guidelines help teachers, coaches and staff recognize warning signs of hazing, report concerns either by name or anonymously, and collect relevant evidence, including digital messages and photos.

Supportive measures for students can include connecting with the mental health specialist, appointments with counselors, communication with teachers and regular check-ins, Gnagy said.

Coaches are currently required to complete training through Coach’s Tool Chest, a platform that includes a module on recognizing and preventing hazing.

Coaches also have access to additional support and education from the U.S. Council for Athletes’ Health.

District approach to prevent future hazing

The district has already taken steps to address hazing, including requiring anti-hazing training for all athletic and co-curricular activities.

Officials are also reviewing preseason meeting agendas and developing a checklist of topics to cover with athletes, parents and coaches.

Gnagy said the district will work through future hazing prevention and reporting through five actions: know it, recognize it, prevent it, report it and respond consistently.

“This gives us a shared way to talk about what people need to understand and do,” she said. “Staff, teachers, coaches, advisors, volunteers, students and families each have a role with specific responsibilities for the adults who supervise and respond to concerns.”

Blackley compared the approach to Olentangy’s Portrait of a Learner, which says Olentangy students should be purposeful, resilient, curious and kind in all that they do.

As it relates to hazing, students should follow specific actions:

• Purposeful: Students should take responsibility as members and leaders by building inclusive traditions, consider how choices affect others and contribute to safety and belonging.
• Curious: Students should examine assumptions and question if practices are harmful, voluntary, inclusive and safe. Curious students challenge the “we’ve always done it this way” mindset.
• Resilient: Students should seek support and act constructively by speaking up about concerning situations and support peers who report such situations.
• Kind: Students should respect others’ dignity and perspectives by welcoming others and rejecting humiliation and retaliation.

Blackley said the district’s learning plan will help students, staff and families evaluate team traditions and activities.

“Are they safe? Are they inclusive? Are they transparent? Are they voluntary?” Blackley asked.

The plan will also address whether activities are developmentally appropriate and help students, staff and families understand where to report concerns.

Additionally, all adults working in the district will participate in focused trainings to provide them with clear guidance on their supervision responsibilities, reporting, documentation and providing students with support.

Coaches will be required to set expectations and review traditions with their team before a season begins. During a season, coaches and other adults must supervise student leaders to watch for appropriate behaviors and traditions.

The district will also offer parent training during winter and spring preseason meetings.

“We have partnered with Final Forums to integrate hazing information for parents prior to winter sports, along with an acknowledgement of understanding,” Gnagy said.

“The central message is that this work involves the whole community,” she said. “We are clarifying expectations and building learning opportunities so that families, staff and student athletes understand the responsibility and how they can participate successfully.”