NEARLY 500 TURN OUT BEFORE JACKSON SCHOOL BOARD TO DISCUSS PRANK

JACKSON -- In an emotional and occasionally combative meeting, a crowd estimated at nearly 500 packed the Jackson School District Board of Education meeting Tuesday night to discuss the schools' eligibility policy and handling of a bizarre incident that occurred off the school grounds last spring.

At the doorway to the Jackson Middle School, three high school girls held up placards. One read: "Two sides to every story."

The story refers to March 19, when a Jackson High School sophomore was "kidnapped" by seven friends, terrorized and finally tied to a cross. The boys, ages 15 and 16, were given punishments of community service and were required to undergo counseling. One of the boys was placed on a minimum of six months probation.

More than 1,300 people signed petitions turned over to the board Tuesday in support of preventing students who are on parole or probation from participating in extracurricular activities. The petitions also say the boy who remains on probation because of the incident should not be allowed to participate in extracurricular activities.

The 16-year-old boy who was targeted by the prank has moved to the western part of the state to attend school. The board of education has decided that all seven boys involved are eligible for extracurricular activities.

During its public comment period, the board allowed anyone to speak. But before they did so, board President T. Wayne Lewis read a statement that said discussion of a particular student's eligibility is forbidden under state statutes. He also said the board would not respond to any questions.

Ministers, parents and high school students took the microphone. All said they abhorred what was done to the boy. But some were critical of the schools' inaction in punishing the offenders.

"The crucifixion of Jesus Christ was a perfectly legal event, but it didn't make it right," said the Rev. Grant Gillard of the First Presbyterian Church in Jackson.

"In the quest to cover things up and keep them quiet, we're perpetrating what we don't want to be," said Dennis Sievers.

After a number of people spoke critically about the boys involved in the incident, the mother of one of them rose. "I'm hearing a lot of talk about Christianity. Along with the cross it covers forgiveness," she said.

Her son is remorseful, she said.

"He is not proud he was involved in the incident, but I am proud to be his mother."

Though badly outnumbered, some high school students rose to defend their classmates. "I don't think anyone here has got the full story," said Ryan Stroder, a member of the football team.

If these boys had been members of a college fraternity, they would have been expelled from school and the fraternity banned from the campus, said one speaker.

A parent of one of the boys videotaped part of the prank, and the video later was shown at a party and briefly in a class at school. School officials had said earlier this month that they had already investigated whether the video was shown in class, but board member Jack Knowlan said the investigation is continuing.

Other board members said they could not support an eligibility policy based solely on whether a student was on probation or parole. But they said they understand that people want the eligibility policy tightened.

Knowlan said he agreed with most of what he heard Tuesday night. "Nobody on this school board feels this should be taken lightly," he said.