There is not enough evidence to pursue criminal charges or further disciplinary action against five seniors accused of bullying and racially harassing classmates, investigators told the school board in La Jara on Tuesday.
As a result, North Conejos School Board president Leroy Salazar said, the Centauri High School prom tonight is open to everyone, including the five 18-year-olds.
A spokesman for the boys, attorney Cass Garcia, said there was no comment at this time.
The five voluntarily withdrew from school last week after classes were cancelled for a day and the prom postponed.
Hundreds of parents complained after the widespread circulation of a photo of four of the boys with guns in one hand and the other arm raised in a Nazi-style salute. The photo, taken in October by the fifth member of the group, has been posted on the Internet.
School officials said they became aware of it May 3 through parents’ calls.
The boys have said the controversial photo was “meaningless” and that they were just “messing around” when it was taken after a target practice.
Salazar said an investigation continues into the boys’ behavior, and it is unknown whether they can return to school or participate in the May 26 graduation ceremony.
Conejos County District Attorney Peter Comar did not return the Post’s calls about the investigation.
Parents have complained at several school forums that officials have long tolerated the boys’ bullying behavior toward classmates caught in the middle of their falling out with a popular Centauri coach, Larry Joe Hunt, an African-American. The school population is roughly half Hispanic and half white of other European origin. Fewer than 1 percent are African- or Asian-American.
The boys have denied being racist and intimidating classmates who supported the coach.
The boys and their parents said their complaints to school officials about Hunt, made a year ago, stemmed from his behavior, including his alleged code of silence in the locker room, tolerance of foul language and the playing of rap and hip-hop music with offensive lyrics. The boys said the school district “brushed off” their concerns.
Hunt, who filed a complaint against the school district with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in December, would not comment. The specifics of the complaint have not been disclosed.
