HCDE Releases OHS Basketball Investigation Report

HAMILTON COUNTY (WDEF) – The Hamilton County Department of Education released their report on the Ooltewah High School rape investigation and hazing culture.

Courtney Bullard, an attorney with Spears, Moor, Rebman and Williams conducted the external investigation.

The report states a culture of bullying and hazing existed within the basketball team prior to the sexual assault in Gatlinburg.

Players said they were regularly punched and harassed by upperclassmen in the locker room.

Bullard’s report also finds the school officials “failed to take appropriate measures” after learning of the assault.

Bullard found parents of team members were not contacted about the incident.

Principal Jim Jarvis and Jesse Nayadley, the athletic director failed to address the effects of that assault on students by allowing the team to continue playing in a tournament.

However,  the report said quote:

“There was no prior culture of sexual harassment on the basketball team and assailants had no prior history of reporter similar conduct.”

Brown, assistant superintendent said school officials have to be more proactive when they become aware of any type of bullying or harassment.

“When we have incidents, when we have behavior that’s just no becoming of what needs to occur in the locker room is that we address those issues. And again, it’s not unique to Ooltewah it happens in all schools. you know sometimes those incidents are kids being kids but we know as adults we need to make sure we’re on top that. that we’re having those discussions because there’s a right way of doing things and a wrong way.”

The 24-page external report released 22 recommendations for all HCDE officials and school administrators to take so they can better identify “bullying, hazing, and sex and gender-based and the proper reporting structure and repercussions for failure to report. ”

If you would like to read the full report click External-Report-OHS.