Latest news with #KellamHighSchool
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Three Virginia high school students seeking $10M in lawsuit over principal's accusation of ‘racist harassment'
Three Virginia high school students are suing their principal, alleging defamation for being called racist over a birthday card and gift they gave a fellow student they insist is a friend. Three students at Kellam High School in Virginia Beach say Ryan Schubart, the school's principal, 'published materially false and defamatory statements in an email addressed to the entire student body on or about March 13, 2025,' according to reporting from WAVY. The students are seeking $10 million in damages. According to court documents obtained by the outlet, the principal claimed the students engaged in 'racist harassment' and 'will be disciplined to the fullest extent possible.' The plaintiffs were reportedly part of a 'close friend group,' which included a student who was allegedly a victim of racial harassment. Tim Anderson, an attorney representing the students, said: 'They shouldn't have been brought out to the town square and castigated in front of the entire community, with adults weighing in, calling them racist. You don't do that to children. It ruins their lives.' He added that what Schubart wrote in the email was not an accurate reflection of what occurred. Per court records, on March 12, the birthday of the alleged victim, the plaintiffs 'presented the gift recipient with a gift intended as a joke consisting of handwritten notes on a birthday card, a bag of fried chicken, and various candy, which was received in the same spirit as a friendly gift by the recipient.' The entire encounter lasted between two to three minutes, court records state. Security footage of the incident showed 'The plaintiffs, the gift recipient and other students laughing, hugging and engaging in friendly behavior.' In his email, the principal wrote that a staff member intervened after witnessing the exchange, which Anderson disputes. 'The principal said that a teacher had to break up the incident that didn't happen,' he told the TV station. 'We have video evidence [that this] absolutely did not happen.' 'All of these boys were close friends. The Black child, [it] was his birthday,' Anderson said. 'The boys were bringing him a gift for his birthday, a gift that he asked for. The child said that the card that was given to him was funny.' He continued: '[The] principal had all that information, but he omitted it, and he spun it up as this is an incident of racial harassment, racial bullying.' The attorney claims the plaintiffs 'have been threatened and property damage has occurred.' The boys have also been removed from the school. The Independent has emailed Kellam High School for comment.
The Independent
2 days ago
- The Independent
Three Virginia high school students seeking $10M in lawsuit over principal's accusation of ‘racist harassment'
Three Virginia high school students are suing their principal, alleging defamation for being called racist over a birthday card and gift they gave a fellow student they insist is a friend. Three students at Kellam High School in Virginia Beach say Ryan Schubart, the school's principal, 'published materially false and defamatory statements in an email addressed to the entire student body on or about March 13, 2025,' according to reporting from WAVY. The students are seeking $10 million in damages. According to court documents obtained by the outlet, the principal claimed the students engaged in 'racist harassment' and 'will be disciplined to the fullest extent possible.' The plaintiffs were reportedly part of a 'close friend group,' which included a student who was allegedly a victim of racial harassment. Tim Anderson, an attorney representing the students, said: 'They shouldn't have been brought out to the town square and castigated in front of the entire community, with adults weighing in, calling them racist. You don't do that to children. It ruins their lives.' He added that what Schubart wrote in the email was not an accurate reflection of what occurred. Per court records, on March 12, the birthday of the alleged victim, the plaintiffs 'presented the gift recipient with a gift intended as a joke consisting of handwritten notes on a birthday card, a bag of fried chicken, and various candy, which was received in the same spirit as a friendly gift by the recipient.' The entire encounter lasted between two to three minutes, court records state. Security footage of the incident showed 'The plaintiffs, the gift recipient and other students laughing, hugging and engaging in friendly behavior.' In his email, the principal wrote that a staff member intervened after witnessing the exchange, which Anderson disputes. 'The principal said that a teacher had to break up the incident that didn't happen,' he told the TV station. 'We have video evidence [that this] absolutely did not happen.' 'All of these boys were close friends. The Black child, [it] was his birthday,' Anderson said. 'The boys were bringing him a gift for his birthday, a gift that he asked for. The child said that the card that was given to him was funny.' He continued: '[The] principal had all that information, but he omitted it, and he spun it up as this is an incident of racial harassment, racial bullying.' The attorney claims the plaintiffs 'have been threatened and property damage has occurred.' The boys have also been removed from the school.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
$10M defamation lawsuit filed against Kellam High School principal over 'racist harassment' incident
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) – The families of three Kellam High School students are suing the school's principal, Ryan Schubart, alleging he 'published materially false and defamatory statements in an email addressed to the entire student body on or about March 13, 2025.' Schubart's email claimed that the students engaged in 'racist harassment' and that 'the students involved will be disciplined to the fullest extent possible.' But the civil complaint says that the plaintiffs were part of a 'close friend group' that included the student alleged to have been the victim of racist harassment. The incident took place on March 12, the birthday of the alleged victim. According to the lawsuit, before the start of school, the plaintiffs 'presented the gift recipient with a gift intended as a joke consisting of handwritten notes on a birthday card, a bag of fried chicken, and various candy, which was received in the same spirit as a friendly gift by the recipient.' The lawsuit also claims that security camera footage of the incident shows 'the plaintiffs, the gift recipient, and other students laughing, hugging, and engaging in friendly behavior,' and that the entire encounter lasted '2-3 minutes.' The three plaintiffs, who are remaining anonymous due to the sensitive nature of the allegations, were subsequently removed from the school, and according to the lawsuit, 'have been threatened and property damage has occurred.' 10 On Your Side's Cheyenne Pagan is interviewing attorney Tim Anderson, who is representing the three students, and will provide updates as they are made available. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Yahoo
Virginia Beach NAACP ‘deeply disturbed' by reports of racial harassment at Kellam High School
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — The Virginia Beach NAACP released a statement after reports of alleged racial harassment occurring at Kellam High School. Report: Kellam student received racist harassment from other students In a letter sent out to the community on Thursday, a Kellam High School student allegedly received racist harassment from a group of other students at the school. The Virginia Beach NAACP stated they were 'deeply disturbed' by the news. The Virginia Beach Branch of the NAACP President Dr. Eric Majette issued the following statement: 'The rise in emboldened racist behavior in recent years is alarming and unacceptable. Racism should have no place in our schools, our communities, or anywhere in society. It is especially troubling that our youth must continue to endure the painful reality of discrimination. The Virginia Beach NAACP is committed to ensuring that all residents, especially African Americans, can live without fear or undue anxiety due to the color of their will continue to monitor this situation closely and look forward to the findings of the ongoing investigation by Virginia Beach Public Schools. We call upon school administrators, educators, and community leaders to take decisive action in addressing these incidents and fostering an environment of respect, inclusion, and the tradition of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the Virginia Beach NAACP remains steadfast in our fight against injustice and racism, recognizing its continued threat to justice everywhere. We also echo the call for unity made by Malcolm X in January 1965, underscoring the painful reality that nearly six decades later, this struggle Virginia Beach NAACP demands that Virginia Beach Public Schools uphold its commitment to equity and justice by implementing stronger measures to prevent and address racism in our educational institutions. We will not stand by while our children suffer the consequences of intolerance.' The involved students are being disciplined in accordance to the school division's code of student conduct. The school district reiterated its zero tolerance policy for racial discrimination and harassment. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
