No word for the public after Lisbon disciplinary hearings

LISBON - School officials here were not commenting after two separate sessions Friday night to conduct hearings to suspend or expel a student.

The sessions followed public concerns that have been voiced about disciplinary action on the state-ranked Lisbon wrestling team, where accusations of bullying by some members who were with the team in December against others are being investigated.

Initially, three hearings had been scheduled for Friday afternoon and evening but Superintendent Brad Lauers said Friday the board would hold only two. Lauers would not comment on what was said in the closed sessions, including whether they involved high school wrestlers. In the recess after the hour-long meeting, casual conversation about wrestling-related topics was heard in the hallway among those in attendance.

In the past month two parents have said their sons were victims of bullying by senior members of the wrestling team. One of the parents said Friday night he "was going to wait until the DCI finished their work" before commenting further. That parent, who along with the other parents have asked to remain anonymous, previously said his son was held down in a locker room, urinated on and had genitalia put on his face.

The Linn County Attorney's Office is considering simple assault charges on at least three of the teenagers involved but no charges have been filed. Reached by text message on Friday night, Lisbon Police Chief Rick Scott said "nothing new" when asked if any new elements in the investigation had risen.

Before the Christmas break, the team canceled practices and did not wrestle in a meet with Maquoketa Valley.  In the Lions' return to the mat, two of the team's top wrestlers were absent for the meet at Durant.  At that time, head coach Jamie Kimberling would not elaborate on any disciplinary action within the program.

In recent weeks, more reports of assault or bullying on high school wrestling teams across the state, with students facing charges in Greenfield, Gilbert and Sioux City.

Chris Earl reported this story. View his KCRG-TV9 report.