Scott City athletic director's job put to vote

A softball coach suspended from her coaching duties earlier this year will retain her promotion to high school athletic director.

By a vote of 3-3, the Scott City School Board quashed a move to take away Sally O'Brien's promotion to athletic director.

O'Brien was suspended from her coaching position from April until the end of the school year for a post-prom party for her daughter, held in a shed behind her house. O'Brien said she provided only snacks, but alcoholic drinks found their way to the party.

Twenty-five Scott City athletes confessed to drinking there and were suspended from extracurricular activities for two weeks.

In March, a month prior to the incident, the board gave O'Brien a promotion to athletic director for the next school year. But at the board meeting on May 21, Kevin Hillemann made a motion in closed session to take away that promotion.

"In personnel issues, there's a lot of things you can't say," Hillemann said Friday. "But what it boiled down to is that I set a higher standard for teachers, staff, administrators and even school board members like myself. We need to hold ourselves accountable. I thought that what happened was inappropriate and set a bad example for our kids."

O'Brien said it was a mistake to have the party on her property.

"I didn't supply beer or anything like that," she said Friday. "I let my daughter have a party out in our shed. I wanted my daughter to be home, not out in the streets. It was a mistake, and I've paid for it dearly. I wasn't thinking as a coach or athletic director, but as a parent.

"I'm a good parent, a good teacher and a good person and have the best interest of the school and the community at heart."

The motion to rescind the promotion was seconded by Sally Porch. Hillemann, Porch and Wayne Petitt all voted to withdraw the promotion. William Wilfong, Nancy Caldwell and Debbi Miller all voted against it. Scott Amick, who is O'Brien's brother, abstained.

The vote needed a majority to pass.

Wilfong, Porch and superintendent Diann Bradshaw declined to comment on the issue.

"I'd like for the issue to die out and move on," Wilfong said.

Messages left for the remaining voting school board members were not returned to the Southeast Missourian Friday afternoon.

Principal Fred Graham performed the duties of athletic director last year. The athletic director at Scott City is responsible for supervising sporting events, making the schedule and booking game officials.

O'Brien said she is a big supporter of Scott City athletics and already attends many athletic events throughout the year.

"I'm looking forward to working with the coaches and athletes at Scott City," she said.

No one was available at the board office late Friday afternoon to say how much financial compensation O'Brien will receive for taking on the extra responsibilities. She also will teach physical education and handle in-school suspensions.

bmiller@semissourian.com

243-6635