HILO — A letter sent yesterday to parents of Keaau High School students says "more suspensions and/or arrests are expected to occur this week" in connection with "multiple Oct. 28 campus disturbances."

The letter from acting principal Ron Jarvis said that school officials and police will go through security camera footage and witness statements in an attempt to identify "students who instigated and/or encouraged the fights." The letter said that those students "will also be disciplined."
"There is footage, so there will possibly be more kids arrested or suspended, and that will possibly go on for the next few days," Jarvis told the Tribune-Herald yesterday morning. Asked how many students were suspended, he did not go into specifics, saying there were "multiple" suspensions and "maybe at this point there are a couple pending."
Jarvis declined a Tribune-Herald request for a copy of the security video, citing security and confidentiality concerns.
Of a parent's account that a student received a broken nose and damaged teeth in the first fracas that took place during morning recess, Jarvis said: "Didn't happen."
"I talked to the mom of the child that was probably the worst (victim) and didn't have anything like the teeth or nose (broken) or anything like that," he said.
Police said Sunday that 17 students were arrested and 11 charged with assault, disorderly conduct or both after officers were called to the campus three times that morning.
Jarvis said he did not know the condition of a 31-year-old security guard that police said complained of pain after attempting to break up the initial melee. Jarvis said he was "unaware" of any students or school personnel requiring medical attention beyond the school's health office.
Asked if there were Cougar football players involved in the brawl, Jarvis said: "We had lots of kids involved." Pressed further, he answered, "Well, let me get back to you on that one."
Big Island Interscholastic Federation Executive Director Lyle Crozier said yesterday the football game Saturday night between Hilo High and Keaau at Wong Stadium is still on.
Jarvis's letter told parents their children's safety is "extremely important" to school personnel. It stated when a lockdown is announced, "students need to 'immediately' enter a classroom and remain there until notified/released by the school administration." It said "students who take off items of clothing, yell, posture, gesture and otherwise instigate or encourage the individuals involved in the altercation, will receive school discipline ... and face possible arrest." Students who direct "any threat, injury, or disorderly physical contact ... toward school personnel will result in ... discipline, police arrest, and possible change of educational placement."
The letter noted that "the vast majority" of students were not involved in the altercations and "followed school lockdown directives in a safe and expedient manner." He also commended school personnel for "an excellent job of moving students into secure areas during the campus lockdowns."