Steubenville City Schools will expand its curriculum related to sexual harassment, bullying, date rape and substance abuse in response to the ongoing rape investigation in which two Steubenville High School student athletes have been arrested and charged.

Superintendent Mike McVey publicly discussed the case and the impact it has had on his district for the first time Thursday in a series of sit-down interviews with local reporters.

-- RAW VIDEO: NEWS9's Eric Minor and Del Barris interview Mike McVey, Superintendent of Steubenville City Schools

Before taking questions, McVey expressed the district's support for the 16-year-old accuser.

"Once again, in the forefront,” McVey said, “is empathy for the young lady and her family. I cannot say that enough.”

McVey declined to answer questions about the two students charged or any other student connected to the investigation, citing the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.

The case has drawn criticism ranging from peaceful protests to an online threat of violence that prompted all city schools to lock down on Tuesday. Although the threat proved to be false, the district has since responded by placing private security guards at all of the city's schools.

Much of the criticism has been borne of the perception that the two students charged and others who have not been charged received preferential treatment because they are members of the school's football team.

"We have 2,450 kids," said McVey. "Sixty kids do not make a school district. One football program does not make a school district. It's part of our goal to achieve academic excellence as in all our other programs and our goal is to graduate those kids, make them compassionate, make them caring, and hopefully make them better decision-makers."

McVey acknowledged that much of the public outrage appears to be directed at insensitive pictures, videos and comments shared by students via social networking and video-sharing Web sites. That includes a 12-minute online video in which a recent Steubenville High School graduate appeared to make jokes about the accuser and the alleged assault.

"It's a horrendous act," said McVey. "A horrible act what went on with the Internet and the social media. And we're going to support more social media to get them (our students) educated with that."

Although some parents have suggested they were withdrawing their children from the city schools in response to the threats, McVey said he would have to research whether that was actually happening.

McVey declined to answer specific questions about whether the district was conducting any review of head football coach Reno Saccoccia or any of the football coaching staff. Saccoccia has told NEWS9 he cannot comment without permission from the superintendent. McVey would not say when or if he would authorize Saccoccia to make a comment.

The district issued a written statement Thursday morning urging any student with additional information to contact authorities.

The statement, attributed to the Steubenville Board of Education read, in part: "We were troubled when we learned that the police were having a difficult time obtaining cooperation from witnesses of that night's events. By remaining silent, witnesses thwart the work of investigators which may ultimately prevent justice from being served."

Two 16-year-old defendants, both Steubenville High School athletes, face a Feb. 13 trial. Both are on electronically monitored home confinement.

Defense attorneys representing both teens have said they plan to ask for a change of venue, citing unspecified threats against potential witnesses.

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