LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY) -- Following an investigation at Comeaux High School into allegations of defacement and vandalism on the night of April 9 by individuals for a senior prank News 10 learns more of what took place, and the consequences students are facing.

Tracy Wirtz, a communication specialist for the Lafayette Parish School System explained school officials know 25 students were involved, but not all of them are seniors or students at the high school.

“They are still in the process of giving due process to the students who may have been involved," she said. "They are going through the evidence. They are looking at videotapes to find out who exactly those students were and what role they played in this particular event.”

Wirtz said it is a school board policy, that if a student commits certain infractions, they are not allowed to walk at graduation. The infractions, listed as a level 3, include infraction 72: A crime of violence- criminal damage to property and unnumbered infractions described cut, defacing or injuring any part of public-school buildings/property. Vandalism is equal to, or over $100 and requires restitution.

“When you talk about a prank, a lot of times those are very benign and there's not a lot of cleanup or issues after the fact. This was more than that. What was done at the school was vandalism. It was defacing school property. People had to clean it up. Money had to be spent, a lot of money had to be spent to rectify the situation that was left behind after they did the things that they did to the school,” Wirtz explained. “A prank is more benign. This went beyond that. When you talk about spray painting things or destroying shrubbery and those sorts of things, you have to think about the fact that there are janitors, there are other people that have to go clean it up, and again, money that has to be spent to put things to right. That is more than just something that's benign. This went beyond that, and students need to realize there are consequences for their actions.”

A concerned parent, who wished to remain anonymous spoke on behalf of her child and the others who feel voiceless and scared to speak because of repercussions. She tells News 10 that her child is a senior who was involved in the senior prank. She says that there were two types of pranks.

The first, was toilet papering the school which she said is viewed as a "normal senior prank" that is done every year. This was the prank she said her child participated in.

In the second prank, she was informed of people flooding the teacher's lounge and breaking things.

“Why are the children who did a simple prank suffering for the children or a child that did the major stuff, if you already charged them with that?” The concerned parent asked. “I'm looking at my child who just told me that ‘I look at myself in the mirror and I'm like, you can't control life. 15 minutes of my life that I thought were just something I thought was going to be a funny prank turned out to mess up my life; something that I worked on for 12 years,’ And I just keep asking the question, 'Are you okay?' A child can tell you they're okay, but when they're just lying in a bed all day, it’s constantly playing in their head. 'I'm not walking across that stage.' That is not fair.”

The parent suggests students get sent to Larosen, a preparatory school but still be allowed to walk for their graduation.

“I understand that y'all did get the person who did the vandalism. Yes. They were wrong. As a parent, I can admit they were wrong for going inside the school. That is wrong. They've done these three years in a row that I know of, and it was not a problem but today it's a problem,” said the concerned parent. “If you’re going to make an example out of 25 children, that's not fair. You don't know what mental space you’re putting these kids in that they worked hard for these 12 years.”

The parent updated News 10 about the hearing they had regarding the prank, and she was informed her child would not be permitted to attend or participate in the base school's graduation ceremony. However, the student will still be issued their diploma.

Students with disciplinary action are entitled to due process.

“We want to make sure that the people that are being disciplined, are the perpetrators for all intents and purposes before those consequences are handed down because it is a big deal to walk at graduation," said Wirtz. "That's something I think that all students look forward to, and it's something that all parents look forward to as well, but I think it's important to remember that students need to be reminded that there are consequences to their actions.”

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