MOUND - The Westonka School Board on Monday approved the resignation of the activities director at Mound Westonka High School in the wake of a videotape controversy that resulted in the suspension of 6 hockey players.
In exchange for his resignation, Dion Koltes will be paid through June 30, 2013. He will forfeit the final year of his contract with the district. Koltes also agrees to release the school district from any future employment claims.
Koltes became a lightning rod for the anger of both students and parents after the February 22 incident, during which a group of students used the Mound Westonka lunchroom to videotape their version of the Harlem Shake. During the video students were seen leaping up on the top of lunch tables and dancing.
The students later claimed they had permission to use the lunchroom.
After the videotape surfaced eight students were suspended and cited by police; six of those were hockey players, who were suspended for an important sectional hockey game. Mound Westonka lost that game and according to players and parents, their chance to advance to the State High School Hockey Tournament.
The students singled out subsequently had their suspensions reduced from two days to one following a significant community outcry. Police also dropped the $75 tickets issued to those teens.
The school board ordered an independent investigation into the incident, which will be carried out by a Twin Cities attorney.
Superintendant Kevin Borg released a written statement following Koltes' resignation addressing the continued fallout from the videotape controversy. It reads:
"Our district needs to learn, grow and heal from this incident. We also need to concentrate on the work at hand and stay focused on our strategic goals. Anything less would not best serve our students or our community."
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