Community Corner
Mound Westonka Places Athletic Director on Leave Following 'Harlem Shake' Suspensions
Hockey players were among those suspended last week; police dismiss citations; parents flood school board meeting.
Mound Westonka's athletic director was put on administrative leave Monday night at a school board meeting attended by well over 100 people.
Dion Koltes found himself at the center of a statewide news story last week after he suspended several Mound Westonka High School hockey players for performing the "Harlem Shake" during an afternoon lunch hour.
Exactly how long Koltes will be on leave was unclear as of this post.
Find out what's happening in Lake Minnetonkawith free, real-time updates from Patch.
District administrators said the behavior crossed the line of acceptable school time conduct and initially suspended the students for two days—as well as kept them out of a first-round playoff hockey game. Mound Westonaka lost 4-2 at the hands of Blake, a team many high school hockey fans thought Westonka had a chance to beat, and was eliminated from the State Tournament bracket. The suspensions were later reduced to one school day.
In addition, students received citations from the Minnetrista Police Department. The district has since requested police dismiss those citations, and the Minnetrista Police Department said Monday they will be tossed.
Find out what's happening in Lake Minnetonkawith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Parents of the suspended students erupted with questions about the punishment's appropriateness and spoke with several news outlets this week about their displeasure about how the situation was handled.
On Twitter:
- LakeshoreWeekly News @LakeshorePreps: Mound Westonka Superintendent Kevin Borg told a standing room only crowd that A.D. Dion Koltes has been placed on paid administrative leave.
- Jeffrey DeMars @JeffreyDeMars:@RenaKARE11: A.D. Put on administrative leave.” #HarlemShake#Mound
- Mark Rosen @WCCORosen: Instead of knee jerk reaction, Mound-Westonka "adults" in charge should have made the kids volunteer at a homeless shelter, teach not punish
- BringMeTheNews @BringMN: Mound Westonka A.D. placed on leave after Harlem Shake hockey suspensions http://dlvr.it/30dTdf
- Charger Gameday @ChargerGameday: A loud ovation from the body when it was announced AD Deon Kolkus (spell check) has been placed on administrative leave.
- Rena Sarigianopoulos @RenaKARE11: Overflow crowd at Mound Westonka school board meeting.pic.twitter.com/KDaNB1mQAK
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
