Principal, 2 staffers reprimanded after Hazard ‘man pageant.’

Hazard High School Principal Donald “Happy” Mobelini and two other staffers were given written reprimands by the district in late October, one day after a homecoming event with male students simulating lap dances and female students pretending to serve beer while wearing Hooter’s t-shirts.

Mobelini, who is also the Mayor of Hazard, and was seen smiling in social media photographs of the event, and staff members Larry Thacker and Joshua Hurt, all received the same reprimand for unprofessional conduct.

That was on Oct. 27, one day after a so-called ‘man pageant’ in the school gym. Thacker and Hurt’s positions were not specified in the letters.

The Herald-Leader, under Kentucky’s Open Record Act, received a copy of the reprimands. They were signed by Hazard Independent Superintendent Sondra Combs.

The high school and school district has received negative national attention for the Oct. 26 homecoming week event called a “man pageant” and state officials are investigating. Several people in the southeastern Kentucky town of Hazard showed up at a rally to support Mobelini soon after the activities at the event became public.

The three written reprimands were identical. They said that on Oct. 26, Mobelini, Thacker and Hurt exhibited “poor professional judgment in that you allowed a student led skit to reach an inappropriate level.”

“This action placed the school district in a situation of legal liability and cast it in a poor light,” the letter said.

The letter said the unprofessional behavior would not be tolerated and that the employees were required to maintain a professional work environment.

The three men will have to attend training approved by the school district at their personal expense, according to the reprimands.

Further, similar incidents could result in more disciplinary action, including being fired, the reprimands said.

Mobelini has not responded to several requests for comment. Thacker and Hurt declinded to comment through a district employee.

The article will be updated.

This story was originally published November 8, 2021 2:14 PM.