More than a month after a boy in the 6th grade was injured in a playground fight, the Grandville Public Schools have suspended a playground supervisor and reopened their investigation into the incident.
A just-discovered post on Twitter is apparently the reason.
In the tweet the supervisor says, “Just broke up a fight at recess even though I really wanted to see who was going to win.”
Boston Haverkate's parents say after he received several kicks in the head, the 11-year-old was out of class at Century Park Learning Center for two weeks with a concussion.
Haverkate's parents say the boy who kicked him was suspended for two days. Now that the Tweet has surfaced, district leaders say they have removed the supervisor and are investigating. The injured boy and his parents want to know if the supervisor could have done more sooner.
“He kicked me in the jaw and he kicked me in the chin and then he kicked me in the temple,” recalls Boston Haverkate.
“The traumatic blow he received to the temple could have killed him,” says his mother Alicia Haverkate. “To know the supervisor could have stopped that from happening is terrifying.”
“He thought it was entertaining and funny enough to post it on social media,” says step-father Justin Haverkate.
“We take these incidents seriously and in this particular situation, things were handled swiftly and appropriately,” said Grandville Public Schools superintendent Roger Bearup. “In regards to the Tweet, today was the first time it was brought to our attention. We responded immediately removing the employee while we investigate.”
The boy who kicked Boston was allowed to return to Century Park Learning Center after serving his two-day suspension. But the Haverkates are using a personal protection order to keep him out of school and away from their son.
“According to the school code of conduct this kid should have been expelled because he is a multiple offender of physical violence toward other students,” says Alicia Haverkate.
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