Senior prank injures janitor, three students at Barlett High School

A custodian and three students were injured Friday as the result of a senior prank that created an oil slick on the stairways and halls of Bartlett High School.

Six male seniors are accused of pouring baby oil and vegetable oil on stairs and hallways in the high school, Principal Kevin Skinkis said Saturday.

The custodian was taken to an urgent care center with a wrenched back, and the students went to the nurse's office with bruises, Skinkis said.

The school's 2,700 students were kept in their first-period class for 2½ hours so the floors could be scrubbed. The regular class schedule resumed about 10 a.m., he said.

Skinkis said it was a shock when he learned who the students involved were.

"I don't think they realized how bad this would be. The prank wasn't well thought out. It was a poor decision by a few individuals."

Punishments being considered include suspension and losing their graduation privileges. However, they will eventually receive diplomas, he said. Graduation is Saturday.

"I believe that all parties have been caught, and they face school consequences," Skinkis said. Police are also investigating, and the young men could face charges, the principal said.

"For right now, all the injuries are minor. People went home for the weekend. We will learn Monday if there was anything worse," he said. "When kids saw the custodian fall, they thought it was a lot worse."

The oil spread through a significant area of the school.

"I would say three-quarters of the stairways, about four or five stairways and four hallways were involved," Skinkis said. "The problem was as students walked in the oil, they were spreading and dragging it, so the problem was ongoing."

"That kind of substance on the tile we have is not easy to get up. It creates an oil slick," Skinkis said. The floors are covered with vinyl tiles.

The school's investigation revealed that the students came to school a little early with baby and vegetable oil in water bottles and dumped it as they walked through the halls.

"It was really, really slippery," said Allison Prang, a graduating senior who was editor of the school newspaper, The Hawk Eye. "I didn't see anyone fall; I saw some people sliding on purpose. My friends and I didn't fall because we were really cautious and looked for it. You could see it. Only one hall was really bad. Teachers and administrators blocked off all the stairways except the main one because that didn't have oil on it."

Friday was the last day of school for seniors, said Prang. Rumors went through the school about injuries and about who was responsible, she said.

Skinkis was careful what he said about the students to protect their privacy, but he did say they were good students.

"It was definitely a shock," he said. "They have not had a disciplinary history. While the investigation is ongoing, they will not be participating in any school activities, including athletics."

More students could be involved, although Skinkis said the school did a pretty thorough investigation. Any other students found to be involved face the same penalties. Bartlett police had no information on the incident Saturday.

"This is my third year at the high school," Skinkis said. "We have never had a senior prank other than TPing of the school. We haven't had anything like this before."

Prank: Students had to be kept in first class for 21/2 hours Friday