Parkview High School suspends six students for 'sexual misconduct'

Six students have been suspended from Gwinnett County's Parkview High School for alleged "sexual misconduct," according to a school spokesperson.

11Alive's Neima Abdulahi has learned the students were on the school's basketball team.

Parkview parent Derrick Gaines was very disappointed to hear about what had happened.

"I was heartbroken, really," Gaines said. "Just heartbroken. Like, wow."

Gwinnett County Schools spokesperson Sloan Roach says the school has taken disciplinary action against the students for a violation of school rules. Roach says the students left the school, then returned to the school.

Gaines said he knows one of the accused students.

"One of the young fellas -- I know his family," he said. "And my heart really goes out to the father and the mother, because I can't even imagine; where do you go from here?"

Roach said in situations like this, students are typically suspended and face a disciplinary panel. The remaining question is just how were they able to leave school?

Students at Parkview say behavior like this makes the entire school look bad.

"I was mostly disappointed because they're a sports team, and they're supposed to be the front-runners of the image of the school," one student said.

In a statement forwarded to 11Alive News, Roach said, "The school has taken disciplinary action with six students for violating school rules. The students-- who were charged with sexual misconduct-- had been at school, left campus, and then returned to campus. In this type of situation, students are typically suspended pending a disciplinary panel."

The Gwinnett County Schools' Student Conduct Behavior Code notes that their rules are effective throughout the entire school day:

Scope of the Code

Everyone is entitled to a safe, secure, and orderly environment in which to learn and work. The rules and regulations in this Code are designed toward that end and are effective during the following times and places:

a. On school grounds at any time;

b. Off school grounds at a school bus stop, on a school bus, school activity, function, or event;

c. When either the alleged perpetrator or the alleged victim is en route to and/or from school, or to or from a school activity, function or event;

d. Off school grounds when the behavior of a student (1) could result in the student being criminally charged with a felony or which could result in a felony criminal charge if committed by an adult; and which (2) makes the student's continued presence at school a potential danger to person or property at school or which disrupts the educational process. (O.C.G.A. 20-2-751.5(c)).

e. Off school grounds while the student is participating in or attending school-sponsored or school-related activities such as field trips, conferences, or athletic events; or is otherwise subject to the jurisdiction of school authorities;

f. Off school grounds when the misconduct is directed at a school student or employee and is related to the victim's school affiliation, or when the off-campus conduct directly affects the safety and welfare of the school community or the orderly mission and function of the school; and

Gaines reflected on the situation overall as a concerned parent, and with concern for the parents of the students involved.

"My thought goes out to the parents -- How do the parents feel about this?" Gaines asked. "As a father and having daughters (myself), I'm always talking about safety. And we will always have this reoccurring talk about sex."

According to Roach, the matter is one of school discipline, and no criminal charges are involved.

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