EXETER, N.H. – Exeter High School is blaming a sex assault case in another school district for a decision to ban school dances “for an indefinite period of time.”

New Hampshire School Administrative Unit 16 Superintendent Michael Morgan told the Union Leader Exeter High School officials recently met with student government representatives about a history of sexually suggestive dancing, an alleged drug and alcohol use at school dances.

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What came out of the meeting was allegedly a joint decision to cancel all dances except the junior and senior prom for the foreseeable future. School officials contend that no specific incident at Exeter prompted the move, but noted the district has called off dances in the past because of bad behavior.

“I didn’t want to ever be accused of knowing something and not doing something about it,” Morgan told the news site. “I wanted to take responsible action.”

Student leaders announced the dance ban, initiated over a week ago, at an assembly for juniors and seniors Wednesday, and plan to do the same for freshmen and sophomores today.

“It was not a decision made lightly … And we are not the first school in the country to have done this,” Morgan told Sea Coast Online.

And while Morgan made it clear that there were no issues at Exeter’s Homecoming dance in September, an incident at St. Paul’s School in Concord influenced his decision.

In that case, former St. Paul’s School student Owen Labrie, 19, was convicted in August of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old freshman during a 2014 “Senior Salute” dance, according to the Union Leader.

“For me, personally, the Owen Labrie case was the tipping point,” Morgan told the news site. “I think we have to be prudent and I think we have to be careful and I think this is the responsible thing to do. I just don’t want to take any chances.”

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At least some students seem to support Morgan’s position.

“It’s been an ongoing problem for at least 10 years now, so I think it’s reasonable,” student senate president Sean Sullivan said.

“It’s important that we put a little trust in (the administration),” senior Emily McDonnell said. “I respect the decision and the opinions of the administrators here. We’ve had so many issues with dances since freshman year.”

Exeter principal Jim Tremblay is also on board with the plan.

“This has been going on well before my time at EHS,” Tremblay, now in his third year at the school, told Sea Coast Online. “We want to continue to foster positive events at our school and if students aren’t treating each other with respect at these dances, it’s not a positive event.”

“We decided we needed to take a break … Maybe (dances) have just run their course for a little while at Exeter High School,” he said.

Parents and local residents spoke out about the ban online.

“As a parent of a child at EHS, I think it’s a good thing that the dances were canceled,” one anonymous commenter posed to Sea Coast Online. “My child won’t even go to one after experiencing one two years ago. The chaperones had no control whatsoever over what went on there. Now let’s work on enforcing the dress code.”

“How does the Labrie trial impact dances at a different school? If they have had problems with the dances at Exeter school and want to cancel dances, do it,” Ted Gifford wrote to the Union Leader site. “Blaming a sexual assault case at another school involving a student who never attended Exeter is a pathetic excuse to solve your own school’s problems.”

John Cloyd seems to agree with Gifford.

“Using an issue at an unrelated school to justify your own agenda against the Exeter High students is dishonest, disrespectful and gutless,” he posted. “Michael Morgan has used a tragic situation at a different school to disparage the students he is supposed to support. Parents send their kids to EHS to be inspired, not insulted.

“If Morgan is unable to relate to students in a more constructive way he should step aside and give the job to someone who can,” Cloyd wrote.