By Dave Clarke

The Wethersfield Board of Education voted to bar an individual from school district property, activities and events for three months following a hearing held in closed session before Thursday night’s monthly meeting. 

According to the announced agenda, the session was called to hear “evidence or testimony…regarding denial of admission to school events or property pursuant to Section 24-24 of the School Code which deals with maintenance of discipline and states that “teachers, other certificated educational employees, and any other person, whether or not a certificated employee, providing a related service for or with respect to a student shall maintain discipline in the schools, including school grounds which are owned or leased by the board and used for school purposes and activities….This relationship shall extend to all activities connected with the school program, including all athletic and extracurricular programs, and may be exercised at any time for the safety and supervision of the pupils in the absence of their parents or guardians.”

The board voted in open session 6 to 0, with board member Paula Baker absent, to accept the recommendation of Supt. Dr. Andrew Brooks to bar the individual in question, Chad Young, from all school activities and property.

The board was required under Section 24-24 to “prepare and make available for public inspection a written decision setting forth its determinative reasoning.” A copy of the decision was sent Friday in a certified letter to Mr. Young.

A copy was provided to The Kewanee Voice at its request. It states that on Sept. 23 Young attended a school-sponsored volleyball game in Knoxville as a spectator. During the game, according to witnesses, he made “egregious, inappropriate, and harassing comments towards a Wethersfield student athlete and other spectators during game play.” 

The letter states that the conduct resulted in the player being subbed out of the game after becoming emotional as a result. The conduct also adversely affected the ability of other spectators to watch the game, the letter states. 

The ban is retroactive to Sept. 23.

The board extended Young the opportunity to attend Senior Night ceremonies at the varsity football game on Oct. 20, providing stipulated conditions are met. He must leave the premises after the introduction of seniors prior to the game.

In other business, the board approved Technology Director Jason Phelps as coach of Wethersfield High School’s new Esports team for the 2023-24 school year. Last month the board approved formation of the team. 

The board also approved the appointment of Wethersfield’s new art teacher, Liz Kegebein, as sponsor of the Art Club she is organizing this year. 

Junior/Senior High School Principal Tyler Nichols reported that fundraisers held during Homecoming Week last week raised over $3,000 for School Resource Officer Chris Woods who is fighting Stage 3 colorectal cancer. Officer Woods has remained on duty while undergoing treatment.

Steve Newman was appointed board representative to the Frank H. Craig Wethersfield Alumni Association, similar to board members who are appointed as representatives to PATT, Athletic Boosters, Wethersfield Academic Foundation and other school-related organizations. 

It was pointed out that alumni activities have increased with a first-ever reunion of 1960s alumni this summer as well as the post-pandemic reactivation of the Craig/Wethersfield group for alumni who have graduated 50 or more years ago. 

A group of alumni are also making an effort to organize an all-class reunion in conjunction with next year’s WHS homecoming in September 2024.