Spirit Day was ruined at Trabuco High today when full water bottles were launched into a crowd of students circling an outdoor courtyard (quad). Students involved in throwing such items were suspended. School officials, concerned about additional incidents and potential injuries, cancelled other Spirit Day activities.
School officials also pointed to ‘vandalism’ which occurred before school as a warning of potential problems, but some students contended the toilet paper, streamers and erasable chalk were the same harmless elements used in sanctioned school activities.
A student assembly with professional entertainment was one of the events cancelled, further inciting those who felt Principal Sullivan was overreacting to a few unruly individuals. This caused more students to gather in the quad to protest the punishment of the whole student body for the acts of a few.
Part of the Spirit Day celebration is competition among grade levels known as Battle Of The Grades (BOTG). Those rivalries may have given rise to inappropriate actions by some students. A video of the bottle throwing can be viewed by clicking here . . .
Motion made by Council Member Kelley, seconded by Mayor Pro Tempore Ledesma, to increase the 2007-2008 budget by $425,000 for two School Resource Officers (SRO), two fully-equipped patrol cars, and two portable radios.
On roll call, said motion carried by the following vote:
AYES:
Council Member Kelley, Council Member Ury, Mayor Pro Tempore Ledesma, and Mayor Reavis
NOES:
Council Member MacLean
ABSENT:
None
With the council’s vote on July 2, 2007 they placed fully trained sheriff’s deputies on all the high school campuses in Mission Viejo, full time.
Where was the assigned SRO?