Holt schools encourage students, grads to share Nassar stories

CORRECTION: In an earlier version of this article, the name of the young woman who recounted her experience with Larry Nassar on Holt Schools property was incorrect. Her name is Abigail Mealy.

LANSING – Holt Public Schools officials had never heard that Larry Nassar assaulted athletes on school property until three women said so during Nassar's sentencing hearing in recent days, the superintendent wrote in a Wednesday letter to parents, staffers and others.

Now, the district is encouraging anyone who may have been assaulted by Nassar on school property to share their stories as the district launches an investigation.

"As Superintendent, my heart was heavy upon learning for the first time that criminal acts of a sexual nature reportedly occurred on our property," Holt schools chief David Hornak wrote in the Letter. "I cannot imagine the pain these young women have endured as a result, and being a father myself, I share the outrage our entire community feels."

Nassar is a former Michigan State University sports medicine doctor who was sentenced Wednesday morning to 40 to 175 years in prison on multiple sexual assault charges related, in part, to assaults on his patients during medical appointments. Nassar also treated athletes for USA Gymnastics, the Dimondale gymnastics club Twistars, and Holt schools.

Two former Holt students and a student from a neighboring district said during victim impact statements in Nassar's seven-day sentencing hearing that they had been assaulted in the Holt athletic building while seeing Nassar for treatment, Hornak wrote in the letter. The first such statement on Friday was the first the district had heard of assaults on school property, Hornak wrote.

Holt graduate Abigail Mealy said during the sixth day of Nassar's sentencing hearing on Tuesday that Nassar assaulted her on school property while she was a student there.

Hornak said in a written statement late Tuesday that the district "is in the process of identifying next steps to investigate and take appropriate remedial action."

As part of that investigation, Hornak encouraged students and parents to come forward if they had stories to share or questions to ask.

"Please let your students know that we are here to listen, investigate, and take corrective action, as appropriate," the letter said.

Asked to respond to follow-up questions on Wednesday, Hornak, who was traveling at a conference, said in an email to the State Journal that "We respect the ongoing process and the privacy of these victims and will have no additional comment at this time."

From the archives: "Ex-MSU doctor accused of sexual assault gets 2,700 school board votes"

Related: "Women tell Nassar they are 'taking back' their power and their futures"

More: "Shri Thanedar says AG should investigate how Whitmer handled Nassar allegations"

Mealy was among 156 women and girls who said Nassar assaulted them and who have addressed Nassar directly for the past week, delivering impassioned victim impact statements before Nassar was sentenced in Ingham County.

Nassar faces sentencing later this month for related charges in Eaton County.

Nassar worked with Holt High School athletes through a contract the school district had with MSU. He was part of a pool of doctors available to the district through that arrangement, officials have said.

The district cut ties with Nassar after the first news reports on allegations against him were published in September 2016. Holt school officials said at the time they were unaware of any allegations against Nassar before the news reports and that Nassar had not had any contact with students that year.

State Journal archives indicate Nassar performed physicals for student-athletes at Holt High at least as early as 2009.

Nassar, who in 2015 helped run a Facebook group dedicated to issues in the school district, ran for the Holt school board in 2016 and received more than 2,700 votes nearly two months after the allegations against him became public.

Contact Justin A. Hinkley at (517) 377-1195 or jhinkley@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @JustinHinkley. Sign up for his email newsletter, SoM Weekly, at on.lsj.com/somsignup.

Call Holt with questions, concerns, or information

Holt Public Schools Superintendent David Hornak said the following in a Wednesday letter to parents and staff: "If you or your student have questions or need support in discussing their experiences with Larry Nassar, please call our Title IX Coordinators, Renee Sadler (517) 694-2383 or Kevin Badge (517) 699-0255."