We Want our Hard Hats Back

We Want our Hard Hats Back Official page supporting Wayzata High School "Hard Hats" - a 25 year tradition at Wayzata High School. Each year there are usually two juniors and 10+ seniors.

Welcome to the page supporting Wayzata High School "Hard Hats." The Hard Hats are a 20+ year tradition at Wayzata High School. The tradition of the Hard Hats has been as a grass roots, student led group, whose primary goal has been to encourage school spirit and support the school’s teams. The Hard Hats traditionally wear overalls, and sometimes boots and sports jerseys. They attend WHS s

porting events to cheer the WHS teams on, and encourage the rest of the pro-WHS crowds to cheer louder and longer, as well. They are essentially a WHS athletics school spirit group. This year, however, the WHS administration has decided to attempt to ban the Hard Hats based on past behaviors from former individual Hard Hats in the group. Because of this, the 2014 Hard Hats members who have worn overalls to school or sporting events (even though every other student at WHS is allowed to wear overalls to school and games), have been unfairly suspended from school and attendance at athletic events. This year’s (2014) Hard Hat members have been trying to work with the Administration to try keeping the Hard Hat tradition going this year and beyond. So far it’s not going well. At last week’s Wayzata High football game, the Administration stopped the Hard Hats from entering and demanded that they remove their overalls, or they would not be allowed admittance. The Hard Hats, with the support of several of their parents who were in attendance, refused what they believed a discriminatory and unjustified demand by the school. With the support of many in the stands, they attempted to cheer on their team from outside the stadium fence. School officials then had them removed from the stadium under police es**rt, and subsequently banned each participating student from athletic activities for the remainder of the year, based on the claims of insubordination. The parents and the Hard Hats were unable to receive any cooperation from school officials, and have retained legal counsel to attempt to remedy this injustice against these students. Instead of an opportunity to legitimize this longstanding tradition - and turn this into a positive - a teachable moment as they like to say ... this administration has instead chosen to attempt to banish the group forever. This treatment of these students, who have not committed the offenses the school claims problematic in the past, is grossly unfair and unjust. Judge the current Hard Hats on their actions - if there is inappropriate behavior, identify them to the students, work together to find appropriate solutions, and discipline them as legitimately warranted. That is how adults, with the trust and responsibility to educate our children, should act. But, attempting to ban a group from associating with each other as a group at school and at athletic events is not fair or just. Please follow this page and watch for details on how you can support the proud tradition of the Wayzata High School Hard Hats!

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If you wish to DONATE to help with the very expensive attorney fees and help keep a 20+ year Wayzata tradition alive, please send your check written to:

WE WANT OUR HARD HATS BACK
PO Box 46454
Plymouth, MN 55447

We appreciate anything you may want to give. Thank you SO much for your support! Let’s help these boys have a great remaining Senior year!

So, after the Board Meeting where everyone on the HH's end had legit info, questions, and willingness to turn this into ...
10/22/2014

So, after the Board Meeting where everyone on the HH's end had legit info, questions, and willingness to turn this into positive and workable situation, one would think that the School Board would:

1) Think a bit
2) Respond back with the answers that was asked by a county tax-payer in the public meeting (see video below)
3) Would actually CARE about this situation because:
* It is a high-profile situation with the media and public involved
* Their reputations are on the line
* The elections are on Nov. 2015
* 12 students First Amendment Rights are being suppressed
* These students are missing valuable school time
* Proof the Administration is violating policies and laws
* Wayzata taxpayers and parents pay their salaries
* Etc.

Apparently not.

Instead of any negotiations, the parents and boys received a letter via email from Scott Gengler (Assist. Principal), stating the boys cannot wear overalls anymore if they want to attend any more school activities, period.

The second letter is from Linda Cohen, Board Chair aka THE BOSS of the School Board and all Wayata Admins. (she has ALL the power here folks), telling the families they are letting the Administration do what they want because the "School Board's work is focused in the area of governance." We looked up Governance in the Dictionary: It is "the act, process, or power of governing". So, they don't govern over "student management" when it escalates getting attorneys involved, which requires a Board member's approval (Chase Anderson)? Wow.

Does this make sense to anyone out there? Bad publicity, attorney's involved, tax-payer money wasted, students getting bullied by the Admin, the Board not doing what they are appointed to do.

There is literally NO protection for any student that goes to any school under this School Board, unless you want to pay $100K to sue them. That's what they are banking on right now, that we run out of funds while they waste our own tax money on attorneys to keep their power over something so ridiculous. It is a horrible abuse of the system.

They all need to be put in a time out until Nov. 2015.

*************************** PLEASE WATCH and SHARE! ******************************Start at 32:00 - It's 20 minutes of e...
10/17/2014

*************************** PLEASE WATCH and SHARE! ******************************

Start at 32:00 - It's 20 minutes of excellent info showing you what we've been fighting for. The speakers:

- Jake Stewart - A Sr. Hard Hat
- Stephanie Varone - Mother of a Hard Hat
- Lainie Beck - Mother of a Hard Hat
- Scott Jones, Father of a Hard Hat
- Steven Weintraut, Attorney for the Hard Hats
- Jim Michaels, Taxpayer in the district (never had kids go to WHS)

Mr. Michaels asked the District/Administration eight fantastic questions he wants answers to; for himself, the HH's, and the taxpayers. We are still waiting for the answers:

1) What was the specific conduct of each student that formed the basis for them to be suspended from school?
2) What was the level of discipline, and was it consistent with the discipline imposed on other students who have engaged in similar conduct over the years?
3) If there was no specific conduct that violated any school policies or rules, why was discipline imposed?
4) Did school officials violate any district policies or procedures in the way the discipline was imposed on the students?
5) Why were students denied the right to have a parent with them when they were required to come and talk to school officials?
6) Why were students denied their right as guaranteed by MN Statutes to record their meeting with school officials?
7) How much money has the district spent on attorney’s fees in dealing with this issue?
8) If district officials violated the law or district policies and procedures, what consequences will there be for them?

This is "School Board 10/13/2014" by Wayzata Public Schools on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.

Again, an administration threatening disciplinary action for freedom of speech. Sound familiar here?
10/16/2014

Again, an administration threatening disciplinary action for freedom of speech. Sound familiar here?

Four Southern Oregon University students claim university officials threatened to call the police and take disciplinary action against them last week after passing out free copies of the U.S. Constitution and asking other students to sign a petition to end limitations on areas students can demonstra…

10/16/2014

This guy was on fire!

We had a sneaky suspicion that he was a "Secret Society" Hard Hat.

10/16/2014

The game tonight was fun - even though the Trojans lost - we still love our team and cheered them all on!

The unfortunate thing is the Admin. made the kids go up in the stands, rather than allow them to cheer by the railing, siting the railing as a "fire code" hazard (there were no signs posted). When the police were asked if the railings are a fire hazard, they said no. This is the video after they were just told by the Admin. to be seated in the stands.

Folks, the Administration has gone so far as to put up FAKE fire code signs at Wayzata High School (starting just last game) only by the student section so they can contain and control the kids, mainly the Hard Hats. They were never there until the last game, after they had no good reason why they were making the boys get up on the stands.

Check it out next time - they don't have these signs posted anywhere else - even on the visitor side. Because the railings are NOT a fire hazard.

Suppression in action.

10/16/2014

A back view of the Minnetonka student section. If you looked from the front, you would see 11-12 students who are wearing - guess what? Blue and white striped OVERALLS - standing right in the front of the student body.

And as you can see, it is packed full from the railing on back. No fire code.

We like their Administration - they know how to have fun.

10/16/2014

Hahahahaha!

This creepy water bug freaked out everyone in the stands - was our spooky guest for October - Hilarious!
10/16/2014

This creepy water bug freaked out everyone in the stands - was our spooky guest for October - Hilarious!

10/16/2014

The Administration gave the boys a "privilege" again, to come to their last Trojan game if they didn't wear overalls.

Since Homecoming and the the Board Meeting, the Admin. has:

1) Allowed the HH's to come to their last Trojan football game tonight with the same "privilege", banning the overalls.
2) Scott Gengler (refresh your memory in our photo album, folks) said that four Hard Hats "barged their way into the last game" and said if they wanted the overalls back they have to prove to the Admin. their behavior.
3) Taken Trewick out of most dealings with the Hard Hat issue going on. PR move perhaps?

FACT:
1)All the boys came in with many parents at the last game, so never "barged" into the game. This is a lie.
2) They have been on their best behavior.

What say you?

Holla!!!
10/15/2014

Holla!!!

Spanning over two decades of Super Fan awesomeness, the Hard Hats have been a tradition and a huge part of Wayzata High ...
10/14/2014

Spanning over two decades of Super Fan awesomeness, the Hard Hats have been a tradition and a huge part of Wayzata High School's school spirit. Why would a school administration try to ban this?

In this album, we show you some Hard Hat photos and yearbook highlights over the years. Thank you for helping us keep this tradition alive!

Proud of these boys- Thank you for all who came out to support them!
10/14/2014

Proud of these boys- Thank you for all who came out to support them!

In a letter sent to Hard Hat parents, the Wayzata High School principal acknowledges that the unofficial pep squad has been around for decades, but that its behavior has worsened beginning in the 2000s.

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4955 Peony Ln N
Plymouth, MN
55446

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