It's time for Scott City to move on

Most residents of Scott City are all too familiar by now with the circumstances of an after-prom party and disciplinary action taken by the school board. And most have chosen sides.

Now, with action by the Scott City School Board, it's time to move ahead.

The board's action involves former softball coach Sally O'Brien and an April post-prom party her daughter had in a shed behind the house.

Twenty-five Scott City athletes who attended the party later confessed to school personnel that they consumed alcohol at the party. They were suspended from extracurricular activities for two weeks for violating school policies. O'Brien was suspended from her coaching position -- but not her teaching duties -- from April until the end of the school year.

O'Brien concedes it was a mistake to have the party on her property, but she recently clarified two issues: More kids showed up than were invited, and she did not supply any alcohol to the teenagers who were there.

Even so, Scott City has been in an uproar, divided between those who thought her suspension was too lenient and those who were happy that children were drinking in a safe environment.

The incident has haunted O'Brien's career. In March, a month prior to the prom-party incident, the board gave O'Brien a promotion to athletic director for the next school year. But at the board meeting on May 21, board member Kevin Hillemann made a motion in closed session to reverse the promotion. He said school employees must have a higher standard than other adults.

The vote was 3-3. Member Scott Amick, who is O'Brien's brother, abstained from the proceeding.

The tie meant the prior promotion stood. O'Brien will replace principal Fred Graham, who performed the duties of athletic director last year. The athletic director in Scott City is responsible for supervising sporting events, making the schedule and booking game officials.

Everyone should be clear on one thing: Underage drinking is against the law. It is wrong for teens to do it in bars or at private parties.

Parents who say they would rather their child be drinking in a safe environment are misguided. Instead of making such statements -- which tacitly give approval to their illegal imbibing -- they should be figuring out ways to teach their children right from wrong.

However, now that the school board has made their ruling -- right or wrong -- it is time for the Scott City school community to get behind it.

They should support O'Brien as she heads into what promises to be a financially challenging year for Scott City athletics.

The community should strive to reflect the school spirit she has shown over her many years with the district.