Scott Central coach eager to return with suspension lifted

MORLEY, Mo. -- Melvin Porter will be back on the bench with the Scott County Central boys baksetball team Monday after he was reinstated by the school.

Porter confirmed Saturday that he has been reinstated as the team's head coach a little more than a week after he was placed on paid leave amid allegations he made an inappropriate comment to a student.

"There's not a whole lot I can say about it," he said Saturday, "but the bottom line is I'll be coaching again. I'm just ready to be back with the team."

Girls basketball coach Semona Penrod coached the team the past week after Porter was placed on leave Feb. 21 for his remarks to a student. Porter or school officials have refused to discuss the comments or when or where they were made.

School board officials met in closed session during a special meeting Wednesday to discuss actions against Porter and to discuss the resignation of school board president Tim McIntyre, who resigned in protest of the way Porter's suspension was handled. McIntyre said he became aware of the situation Feb. 21 and was discouraged because the board would not discuss it in its regular meeting Feb. 24.

"Based on the facts there should have been a decision made, or I felt there should, and it was going nowhere," McIntyre said Wednesday.

School superintendent Joanne Northern, who declined to discuss Wednesday's vote on Thursday, could not be reached Saturday.

Porter said he's eager to be back with the team in time for a district playoff game Monday.

"To be honest, I only left my house twice in the past week," he said. "I didn't have any idea how this would turn out. I didn't even have any idea of whether there was support for me in the community."

Porter also will look forward to the return of several members of the team who did not play Friday in a win over Delta. Porter said those team members did not compete because of an illness.

jhall@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 174