That is so disrespectful... People should not do such things. It's just sad to see what oot generation has become.

I cannot believe this. Their school should expel them and their parents should kick their asses into community service for penance.

I'm as disappointed with Edina's actions as the next girl, but since I have known Kennedy, I know that he would have wanted us to respond to this in love. Kennedy would never take revenge or even speak badly about what was done. Kennedy would be someone who would turn the other cheek and be the bigger man, and I think the Tonka community should do the same. Respond to injustice with love, that's what Ken would have wanted. Miss ya Ken! Hope we make you proud!

Sad, sad situation by any means. But, has anyone proven that this was done by EHS students? Seems to be all conjecture at this point. I'm almost forty years out of high school and this lack of respect seems to be on the increase. Other schools take pride in 'dissing' each other these days. I'm so disappointed at the lack of quality kids coming out of our neighborhoods these days. Schools are not the problem: Lousy parenting is.

I had to delete a comment on this story because it contained profanity. Just a reminder to keep your language clean, folks.

I am a graduate from Minnetonka who has painted the rock before. Though this is an unfortunate and sad situation, I would just like to say when you are a high schooler and you plan to paint the rock you don't really take into account what is already on the rock. I'm sure the Edina kids didn't purposefully paint over Kennedy's memorial to spite us. They most likely planned to pain the rock and didn't consider what was already on the rock. I'd like to give the kids the benefit of the doubt, its not as if Kennedy's memorial was put up yesterday.

I'm not surprised this happened - especially with all the pride and one-upsmanship that the Lake schools have. Disappointed, yes. Surprised - no. I am shocked by some of the tweets calling for destruction and retaliation - let it go...get over it and prove you're better people than a few classless kids.

Paint it over and move on people...

This whole situation is a shame. I'd like to see an end to all of this sort of "school spirit." Vandalizing property is not the way to show school spirit. I would guess whomever painted over the rock had no idea it had turned into a memorial for Kennedy. But the whole situation could have been avoided if these students had opted to show school pride in a positive -- not a negative -- way. My guess is that Minnetonka students also have gone to other schools and painted pro-MHS comments all over their school property. I would think the best way to handle this would be to have a gathering of Kennedy's close friends come together and re-paint the rock and for the Minnetonka school body to vow to not engage in this sort of school spirit going forward. Retaliation is not going to change anything. I'm so proud of Abby for her loving spirit and for sharing her perspective on how Kennedy would've wanted this situation handled. I hope other MHS students and Kennedy's friends listen to her message and let this go.

I am the mother of two Minnetonka high schoolers and I am voting that this was done as a prank against Minnetonka..........a rivalry thing. To suggest that they did it to stamp out the memorial is very, very unlikely. And I wish the Patch would have presented this is a prank rather than vandalism. Without proof, calling it vandalism is very drama-saturated and "Enquirer-esque" of the Patch, if you ask me.

If this is true, I am ashamed of the students of my high school and their actions. I trust the family of the student who died will not be too offended by the ignorance of youth. As with my family, we knew that the "Senior Wall" at St. Louis Park High repainted in honor of our son Andrews death last April 25th, as a memorial, would eventually be painted over. It was a WONDERFUL tribute and I thank the student body at SLP.

John I sorry about the loss of your son. April 25th is my sons bday although he is 16 it is hard to imagine losing a child for any parent. It would be hard to also imagine having your child's memorial rock painted over, another cruel blown whether these teenagers realized what was on the rock or not. I understand Abby's comment about forgiveness and agree and to hear that Kennedy would have wanted that makes me think he was a shiningyoung man. But people should not just get over it and move on downplaying this as a prank by some punks. The whole point of the rock was to remember and tribute. But this was not a prank it was a crime of vandalism. My son is in Wayzata high school and if he was ever involved with something like this I would not allow for my son to not be punished. I would hope he would not be expelled but I would expect a strict punishment of some sort or otherwise it only hurts these kids in the long run. The world is not going to be dishing out light. punishments at 18 and these teenagers need to become prepared to enter the real world and learn to respect property but ESP people. So whether it was intended to be a prank or a crime, many pranks have consequently ended up just as serious as crimes so at the very least if whoever did this ever gets there should be some community service, any apology to the parents of Kennedy and the school or Something. Letting this go no matter what is not much a tribute or a help to anyone I feel.

I'm betting that the 'myth' about Edina's 'Perfect Little Angels' just got flushed!!

When I first saw this story, I thought, "oh great, just what Edina needs, more thoughtless mean spirited acts from kids in Edina" (I live here and have two kids who graduatied from EHS). Then I thought about it and realized that, like most high schools, the kids at EHS are really pretty wonderful. I really believe that there was never intentional disrespect aimed at the memorial for Kennedy. The rivalry between schools has been going on forever and sometimes the demonstrations of "school spirit" are played out in a stupid, destructive manner. This was one of those times. Like any parent, I am more than disappointed in their behavior. I hope ALL students will use much better discretion when playing a "prank" on their neighboring schools; being destructive is never funny. There are plenty ways to "punk" another that are funny, clever, even, creative. Use those things on top of your necks and it will be much better.

Hi everyone - KSTP is working on a story for tonight's 5pm news regarding this prank -- and looking for people to talk about what happened. Please email me cegert@kstp.com or call 612-875-1076. Thanks :)

As others have articulated here, I am very disappointed in the individuals responsible for this inappropriate behavior. Such actions are not representative of what we stand for at Edina High School. We expect much more of our students and certainly do not condone this behavior. While competitions and rivalries run deep, the place for them is on the field of competition, not in the destruction of school property. On behalf of the Edina High School community, I sincerely apologize to the Minnetonka High School students, staff and community members affected by this disrespectful act.

Bruce Locklear, Ed.D
Edina High School principal

Oh well, this kind of thing happens. You should paint it back the way it was, and leave it at that. They probably didn't know what they were painting over.

I am almost somewhat shocked that some people take such a casual approach to something like this. I do suppose these things happen. But although this was not on federal grounds if this was a memorial dedicated to Veterans, or 9-11 victims, or Oklahoma city bombings victims or if someone had set up a memorial for the Batman movie victims and it got sprayed painted over would anyone be saying, kids will be kids? This was a child's memorial rock and people seem to have a different opinion on how utterly disrespectful this was to everyone since maybe cause it was a local incident. It was very nice for Principal Locklear to write that apology when it should be how many students giving that to those people in person.

As another student in the state of Minnesota, I do not think this student would have a clue that this Rock was painted as a memorial. I go to Eden Praire and I had no idea that this was a memorial either. My buddies and i were also considering writing on the rocks around the state, because it has been a huge tradition in the past. I feel sadness not only for the student that parished, but for those Edina students and what they may be going through. While Edina and EP are the biggest of rivalries, I would hope you cut Edina some slack, and let's get on to play some hockey.

My grandson was the one who painted it, and when he told me it was him I was proud of him, you may be thinking I'm just a cold harted self centered old man that has a lot of money, but painting the rock has been a tridition that has started in my generation, even I painted the rock when I was a young cake eater, so I know that my grandson ment no harm to this Kennedy fellow, I do find it very sad that he has passed away, but no kid could have known that. So let the tridition continue, but we need to find a new rock Edina because there is no need to mess with the dead.

He needs to protect his grandson, Amber.

The rock painting happens every year usually a couple of times at several schools. Why would students from any other school know that this was a memorial?

If those that created the memorial wanted it to be a lasting memorial they should have either put up a sign, plaque or chose another type of memorial - not the school rocks that get painted every year.

The kids from Edina should not be blamed for being insensitive or purposely trying to hurt the community. They painted the rock that has been a traditional thing for years for SEVERAL schools- a condoned tradition by schools and the community.

A comment was deleted for violating the terms if service.

Comment deleted for violating terms of service.

A few weeks ago Edina High School was in the news for an unfortunate act of misplaced rivalry between our school and Minnetonka High School. I have articulated to many about my disappointment in the action of a handful of students who chose to deface another school’s property.

Since that time, I have had the opportunity to witness with great pride the behavior of several Edina students, both from those involved in the incident and those who were not. In both cases, students have exhibited a strength of character in being forthright and respectful.

For those students not involved, I appreciate that they were willing to come forward and offer to help repair the wrong that was committed by offering to repaint the rock and publicly apologize on behalf of Edina High School. For those few students who were involved, I am proud of their maturity in admitting their involvement and in owning their actions and resulting consequences. It is clear to me that these students were not malicious in their actions and are sincerely sorry for what they’ve done.

Edina High School is proud of its tradition of excellence both on and off the field. As a new school year begins, I look forward to putting this event behind us and embarking on another great year.

A few weeks ago Edina High School was in the news for an unfortunate act of misplaced rivalry between our school and Minnetonka High School. I have articulated to many about my disappointment in the action of a handful of students who chose to deface another school’s property.

Since that time, I have had the opportunity to witness with great pride the behavior of several Edina students, both from those involved in the incident and those who were not. In both cases, students have exhibited a strength of character in being forthright and respectful.

For those students not involved, I appreciate that they were willing to come forward and offer to help repair the wrong that was committed by offering to repaint the rock and publicly apologize on behalf of Edina High School. For those few students who were involved, I am proud of their maturity in admitting their involvement and in owning their actions and resulting consequences. It is clear to me that these students were not malicious in their actions and are sincerely sorry for what they’ve done.

Edina High School is proud of its tradition of excellence both on and off the field. As a new school year begins, I look forward to putting this event behind us and embarking on another great year.

Bruce Locklear, Ed.D.
Edina High School principal

Ryan, there were no threats on the post. The post spoke the truth about what is going on at Edina High School. Parents should know what is going on and should speak up. Bruce Locklear is out of control with what authority he thinks he has. Any principal that tells the superintendent that he runs his school how he wants to has a problem. I guess the freedom of speech is out the door when it comes to covering Edina.