One South Portland football player has been suspended and further discipline could result after the use of prescription pills is discovered.

School officials in South Portland are still investigating a hazing incident that has led to the suspension of one player on the high school’s varsity football team.

Further disciplinary measures could be forthcoming, depending on the results of the ongoing probe, according to Ken Kunin, the superintendent of schools.

Kunin did not identify the suspended student. He said it’s unclear at this time how long the suspension might last, whether it could lead to an expulsion hearing before the school board or if there would be any criminal charges.

Kunin, who is in his second month on the job, told the Current Monday it would “take a few more days to sort it all out.” He said the school department is taking a slow and steady approach because “we need to be led by the facts.”

What Kunin could confirm this week was that “a prescription medication was given to a number of students on the football team” earlier this season.

He said school administrators were alerted to the situation by head coach Steve Stinson, who heard some talk in the locker room. Stinson did not respond to a request for comment prior to the Current’s deadline Tuesday.

Several parents and a football boosters representative were also contacted by the Current, but they declined to speak on the record.

Kunin said that Athletic Director Todd Livingston and one of the assistant principals at the high school called a meeting of the football team on the afternoon of Thursday, Sept. 17.

This meeting took longer than was originally anticipated, Kunin said, because “it became clear that (school administrators) needed to talk to each player one on one,” and there are about 40 players total.

Kunin said during that meeting, students were requested not to use their phones or other mobile devices “because we wanted to be fair” and not have some students become aware of the line of questioning before others.

Kunin said because of the length of Thursday’s meeting, most of the players did not return home at their usual time, which led to questions by parents.

He said school officials contacted the football families on Friday, Sept. 18, to explain the situation. Kunin said most parents were “appreciative that we’re taking this seriously” and “want us to do what is right.”

Ryan Caron, the principal at South Portland High School, also declined to comment on the incident other than to say, “Superintendent Kunin has done a nice job detailing the school’s response to this situation.”

Kunin said that in addition to school administrators, school Resource Officer Alfred Giusto and the city’s police department were also notified.

This week, Kunin said, “there may be follow up by the police,” but he is not aware of any arrests or pending charges against any students related to the hazing incident.

Countering rumors and social media comments that suggest what happened was not hazing, Kunin said, “Saying, ‘Here’s a pill for you’ is very, very serious.”

He said that under state law, hazing is defined as “any action or situation that recklessly or intentionally endangers the mental or physical health” of someone else.

Kunin said “Maine law is very clear” on this point and that even if the student involved in handing out the prescription medication was “only doing something stupid with no intent to hurt anyone,” it still must be taken “extremely seriously.”

He said the action of giving out the pills could have “put someone at risk.”

“The bottom line for us,” said Kunin, “is that student safety must come first.”

Richard Matthews, chairman of the Board of Education, told the Current this week that while the situation involving the football team is “disappointing,” he feels the “staff and Ken are doing a great job making sure they have all the facts.”

After winning the first two games of the season, South Portland’s varsity team was blown out against Sanford on Friday night, 25-0.

Matthews said while he didn’t want to take anything away from Sanford, which has “a great athletic program,” he does believe the hazing incident and resulting suspension was “weighing on the kids’ minds” Friday so their “concentration and focus was not up to par.”

What bothers Matthews the most, he said this week, is that “South Portland High is a good school and what’s being said is not accurate. Some of the stuff I’ve seen on social media is totally out of line.”

He added that “kids mess up, but that can be corrected.” Overall, Matthews said, administrators have “done a fine job to this point,” especially in “not jumping to any conclusions.”

Kunin agreed with Matthews that kids sometimes make mistakes for which they should face discipline, but also said such a mistake should not define them.

While some may feel the school overreacted, Kunin said, “hazing is against school rules and school policy” and that’s why action needed to be taken.

Kunin said the suspension and investigation “have been very hard for the team, which I am sure wants to represent their school well.” And while he’s disappointed, and wishes the incident had not happened, Kunin is also hopeful that “we can move forward together.”

Kunin said it’s his understanding that the coaches will be “working with the players to bring the team back together,” and called the football players a group of “great young men.”

Kunin also has “great faith that when our athletes, in all sports, think about it, they’ll want to act in a safe, responsible and ethical manner, which is what we expect.”

South Portland next takes on Deering at home at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25.

Ken Kunin