Albemarle High JV Football Player Allegedly Raped In Locker Room; No Response Yet From ACPS Superintendent Or School Board

More than one week has passed since an Albemarle County junior varsity football player was allegedly raped through object penetration by unsupervised fellow student-athletes in the Albemarle County High School varsity football locker room.

During this time, parents, students, teachers and coaches have been left conspicuously in the dark by Superintendent Dr. Matthew Haas and the Albemarle County School Board. Neither Haas nor the board have released an official statement of any kind.

Currently, the Albemarle County Police Department is investigating the alleged “hazing incident,” which was video recorded by other unsupervised student-athletes and then disseminated through social media for much of Central Virginia to watch.

It is beyond time for Haas and the school board to issue a public statement. Their silence creates doubt and distrust, which yields dangerous dynamics for parents, students, teachers and coaches alike.

I am respectfully asking Dr. Haas and the Albemarle County School Board to issue a public statement that offers solace to the abused young man and his furious and broken-hearted family.

I am respectfully asking Dr. Haas and the Albemarle County School Board to issue a public statement that explains how all the perpetrators will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.

I am respectfully asking Dr. Haas and the Albemarle County School Board to issue a public statement that clearly identifies how the school system will keep all our children safe at all our schools moving forward.

I am respectfully asking Dr. Haas and the Albemarle County School Board to stop hiding behind bureaucratic legalese and instead rise to the forefront of this controversy as a guiding north star.

True leaders are defined during times of crisis.

The entire Central Virginia community is watching, Dr. Haas and school board members.

~ Jerry Miller