High school denies Dieter at finish line

Worries about affiliation with MTV, field damage lead district to nix use of school for reality star’s charity event. To the surprise of charity runner Dieter Schmitz, the Laguna Beach School District has rejected an application for his finish line event to be held at the high school’s field.

“It hurts me worse than I can ever explain to you, to be betrayed by my own school,” Schmitz said.

The event, Running Home 4 Teens, intended to raise money for suicidal teens, will now be held at the United Methodist Church in Laguna Beach at 6 p.m. Sunday.

Schmitz, who appears on MTV’s reality show, “Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County,” will run 120 miles from Tijuana to Laguna, and he wanted to end the event at his alma mater.

A news release from district superintendent Theresa Daem stated that the district has made a commitment not to be involved in MTV-affiliated events.

The release also cited the district’s commitment to deny applications for large-scale outside events that could damage the recently refurbished field.

“We support what they’re doing, but this was a misunderstanding,” Daem said. “They should have known from the start that it wouldn’t likely be approved.”

Schmitz feels he has been discriminated against, and that despite removing all MTV involvement from the event, he was still rejected.

“The only fact that matters is what is written on the permit as reasons for denial by the school district. There are only two words: ‘MTV Sensitivity.’”

Schmitz claims his group complied with all of the changes that were asked of them.

“Had they denied us when we first asked to use the venue, this would have been fine. Instead, they had us running around changing and adapting to their many requirements -- only to change their mind six days prior to my event.”

Daem did not supply a reason as to why the school district does not want to be affiliated with MTV.

Schmitz speculated that the school didn’t want to be associated with an event for depressed and suicidal teens.

Schmitz has also criticized the school district for not making an effort to personally contact him, though he is appreciative of high school principal Nancy Blade for offering to help find a new venue for the event.

Claiming similar events had recently been denied access to the field, Daem apologized for the miscommunication.

“We are being consistent,” Daem said. “There is nothing unique to this event.”

Schmitz disagrees.

“They have denied a breast cancer walk. Our request is far different than a walk with hundreds of people on the track. All our event is, is me.... It’s a 30-minute event,” Schmitz said.

Dan Reidenberg, director of Suicide Awareness Voices of Education, which is sponsoring the event with Schmitz, said he discovered the event was denied when he called the district to offer help with educational materials.

“I was shocked,” Reidenberg said.

“They gave me several reasons for the denial, saying it would bring in too much trash and noise, that it wasn’t educational, and that there wasn’t a current student involved,” Reidenberg said.

Still, Reidenberg believes the new location at the church will serve the events’ purposes well.

“We’re very appreciative the church is hosting this; they are very kind and welcoming people.”

The new location is at 21632 Wesley Drive. For information, visit www.rh4t.com.

QUESTION OF THE WEEK

Do you agree with the School District’s decision not to allow MTV’s Dieter Schmitz to use the high school field for a fundraiser? Write us at P.O. Box 248, Laguna Beach, CA, 92652, e-mail us at [email protected] or fax us at 494-8979. Please give your name and tell us your home address and phone number for verification purposes only.20051216ir5lrmkn(LA)Dieter Schmitz is upset he can’t use space at Laguna Beach High.