KILGORE, Texas (KETK) In late August, a serious incident involving an eighth-grade student at Kilgore Middle School in East Texas sparked controversy within the community and district. The student suffered a critical head injury after an altercation in the school cafeteria.

This event led to public outcry, with families and community members demanding explanations. KETK News has compiled a timeline from the student’s injury and recovery to the district’s response and the family’s statements.

The incident: Aug. 21

On the afternoon of August 21, Lukas Hardeman was socializing with friends during lunch when another student lifted him and slammed him onto a steel chair, impacting his head.

Hardeman was immediately taken to a local ER and later moved to a Dallas hospital. He spent five days in the ICU, where surgeons had to temporarily remove parts of his skull to control bleeding and reduce swelling.

Photos courtesy of Catom L Hardeman

Doctors later confirmed he had a six-inch skull fracture, though there were no signs of permanent brain damage.

School board president’s statement: Aug. 25

On August 25, school board president Jason Smith released a statement addressing the issue of disclosure regarding students and staff.

“When incidents occur, families rightly seek prompt and clear information. However, the District is limited by federal laws like FERPA and HIPAA, which require the protection of students’ and staff’s educational and health data. While specific details cannot be disclosed, the District remains committed to transparently communicating the steps being taken to ensure a supportive and secure school environment.”

Kilgore ISD School Board President, Jason Smith

Smith explained that going forward, the community can expect the district to:

• Provide updates as quickly and clearly as possible.
• Share what actions the school is taking to protect students and staff.
• Be transparent about what the school can release, while honoring the privacy of those involved.

“I am confident that I speak on behalf of the whole board when I say that we appreciate your trust and understanding as the district balances transparency with the responsibility to protect individual privacy,” Smith said. “Together, we will continue working to make Kilgore ISD a safe and thriving place for every student to learn and grow.”

School board meeting: Aug. 25

At the school board meeting before Hardeman’s return home, several community members expressed their criticism of the district’s policies.

“Kilgore ISD is minimizing it and stating it has been blown out of proportion,” David Trussell, the victim’s uncle, said. “It has not been blown out of proportion. We want answers, and we want change.”

One parent accused the Kilgore ISD of failing to follow its own policies, claiming the principal had not documented reports of bullying.

When Hardeman was finally released from the hospital, community members gathered on the streets of Kilgore to show support for the middle schooler and his family.

District statement: Aug. 26

Just one day after community members attended the school board meeting to share their concerns, the district released a statement to reiterate that the safety and security of their students and staff are their “highest priority.”

“In regards to last week’s student assault that occurred at our Middle School Campus, please know that the KISD School Board of Trustees and our KISD District fully understand and accept the importance of ensuring the safety and well-being of every student entrusted into our care. The event from last week has left us all shaken, it was both unexpected and deeply troubling, and our thoughts and prayers remain with our student who was injured. The safety and security of our students and staff members continues to be our highest priority. No student should feel uncertain, afraid, or anxious about attending school. This week we have begun a thorough review of our campus safety measures, our district communication practices, security protocols, and programs that the District and our campuses have in place to keep everyone safe. KISD is committed to taking every necessary step to keep our students and staff safe, to improve upon our current safety practices, and to restore the trust of our students, parents, and Bulldog Community.”

Kilgore ISD

Review of safety measures: Aug. 29

Kilgore ISD announced on Facebook that they have been conducting a “thorough review” of its campus safety measures, district communication practices and programs.

“It is our goal to provide consistent, effective, and timely communication to keep our Bulldog parents and Kilgore community informed and engaged,” the district said in the statement.

Their new measures include email updates through ParentSqaure, which allows parents to anonymously report incidents and receive monthly newsletters.

The school has also implemented the “Crisis Go – Safe 2 Speak Up” reporting system as an online campus notification tool where reports can be made anonymously for the students safety and privacy.

More information about these tools can be found on the Kilgore ISD website.

Speaking out and next steps: Sept. 9

It has been almost three weeks since Lukas Hardeman was slammed headfirst into a steel chair, and his parents are now speaking to KETK News about the incident and the next steps in his recovery process.

Lukas’s stepmother, Catom Hardeman, explained that a lot of people have spoken about how they have reported bullying multiple times to the district, and nothing has happened: “It shouldn’t take something like this to bring change. But it shouldn’t have taken this. This should have never gotten to that point.” 

Despite the family’s desire for changes within the district, Catem said that Lukas will not be returning to Kilgore ISD. “He’s not going to go back to that school,” Hardeman said. “We’re going to homeschool and then maybe eventually do a private school. It kind of just depends on whether he wants to be around other students. Right now, we’re just trying to focus on him healing and not rushing it, and we’ll eventually pick up some homeschool.”

The family said that they have a long recovery process ahead with Lukas set to visit a brain injury clinic in the coming months.