By Linda Conner Lambeck

WESTPORT — The Board of Education will meet Jan. 31 to hear an appeal of administrators’ decision not to renew the contract for a Staples High School tennis coach.

The hearing can be heard in public if the coach wishes. It will take place at 9 a.m. Friday, Jan. 31.

On Thursday morning, four school board members and more than two dozen members of the public joined a special meeting of the board, held via Zoom, to hear Stephen Sedor, a lawyer for the board, discuss procedures that will be used to conduct the hearing

Thursday’s 9 a.m. meeting was led by board Secretary Neil Phillips. Board Chairwoman Lee Goldstein, who has recused herself from the proceedings, did not participate. 

It did not appear that board Vice Chair Dorie Hordon or member Robert Harrington were present during the online meeting.

Under state statutes, any coach who has been in a position for four years or more has due-process rights if dismissed.

Within 90 days of the end of a season, a coach whose contract will not be renewed receives a notice. The coach can request a hearing on the non-renewal decision.

Soccer coach controversy may lead to more appeals

The issue of the tennis coach’s contract non-renewal became known shortly before a controversy erupted over non-renewal of contracts for several coaches of the Staples soccer team.

At the board’s Jan. 16 meeting, Staples senior Jonny Costello, a varsity soccer player, read a statement saying that he and his family have been unfairly vilified for reporting to the school district’s athletic director an allegation that a physical altercation occurred between him and a coach at the boys soccer team retreat last August.

The tip to Athletic Director VJ Sarullo, which resulted in several coaches’ suspension and later contract non-renewal, came from an anonymous source last October and not the Costellos, according to the statement.

It is not clear whether any of the soccer coaches will appeal the non-renewal of their contracts.

Not a “trial,” but a “final” decision

“This is not a court. This is not a trial,” said Sedor. Yet, the board will act as the judge in the matter, listening to testimony and read submitted documents.

“You are the final decision-maker” as to whether administrators’ decision to not renew was arbitrary or capricious, Sedor added.

Since presumably only six board members will hear the case, a tie vote would mean the non-renewal is sustained since the coach would not have received a majority of board members agreeing that the decision was arbitrary.

Sedor recommended the board hear opening statements from both sides and that the administration lay out its case first. That way the board will know the reasons for the recommended contract non-renewal.

The coach then will have opportunity to present his case.

“That works,” Phillips told Sedor.

Sedor would run the hearing, rule on any objections and make recommendations to the school board members on what evidence could be allowed or not.

Issues arise if hearing is in public

Board deliberations would take place in executive session should the hearing itself be held in public.

Board members could ask questions during the hearing.

A decision does not have to be rendered on the day of the hearing. It can be carried over.

Board member Jill Dillon asked about student privacy if the hearing is held in public.

Sedor said precautions would be taken, and that certain parts of the hearing could be moved into executive session to protect student identities or if the discussion involves health issues.

Public has questions

Several members of the public wrote questions in the Zoom chat tool, but most were not addressed, Phillips said, because the meeting was a work session on procedures.

“The non-renewed coach knows why they have been non-renewed, correct?” asked Dillon.

“I would imagine so,” Sedor said.

Board member Kevin Christie asked if a decision would be made by a simple majority.

Sedor said a majority vote by a quorum of board members at the hearing would make the decision official.

Freelance writer Linda Conner Lambeck, a reporter for more than four decades at the Connecticut Post and other Hearst publications, is a member of the Education Writers Association.