Misconduct allegations prompt changes in NK athletics, training in sexual harassment

NORTH KIGSTOWN - The school's interim head is reorganizing the sports department and allowing new training for coaches on sexual harassment after at least two allegations of inappropriate behavior by coaches and the dismissal of two other members of the department.

The changes, announced at a school council meeting on Tuesday, come at a time when authorities are still investigating controversy over former high school basketball coach Aaron Thomas' "naked trial" and now a high school teacher claims he killed the girl he coached. "hunted." .

Temporary support. Michael Waterman sent an unnamed Davisville High School teacher on administrative leave on April 29 after learning that the girl's parents had contacted the U.S. Attorney's Office to investigate the allegations against Thomas.

A few days later, Waterman announced that two more school employees were on strike, one of them, according to The Journal, a school principal and the other a coach.

Waterman did not disclose details of the additional suspensions at the time, except that "we recently received new information about North Kingston County school staff from members of our school community."

Waterman called for an additional independent investigation by lawyer Matthew Oliverio, who wrote a report last year harshly criticizing school officials who did not monitor Thomas' behavior . (Thomas denied the mistake and was not charged with the crime.)

Coping with electronic communication

As part of the reorganization of the sports department, Waterman told the school committee that the department would no longer tolerate coaches talking to athletes through private channels.

They must contact the school department via email. From the fall, the sports department will also use the new communication program.

"I want society to help us," Waterman said. "If you see a conversation between the coach and your child, and it's not in the program or in the NKSD e-mail, I want you to ask your child about it, but I want you to inform us as well.

"We want to make sure we're doing it right," he said. "These are some of the steps we have taken to ensure that all our communications are accountable and that something always happens."

Waterman said schools will also hire an assistant athletic director to ensure that the athletic director is "more involved in daily life" - more visible at sporting events and more responsive to parental concerns.

training of trainers

Sports director Chris Cobain spoke about the new training that all coaches must go through to get a coaching certificate.

The training covers topics such as protecting children from inappropriate behavior and abuse, communicating with parents, and studying Chapter IX of the Federal Law on Gender Equality in Sport, which has recently become an instrument of sexual harassment.

In fact, the U.S. Attorney's Office was asked to investigate the actions of Thomas, as well as the high school coach, as possible violations of Section IX.

"Inadequate behavior is something we need to continue to work on openly, detect and stop," Cobain said, "and will not continue in the future."

Speaking to several disgruntled community members who blamed the school board and its response to various allegations, school board chairman Gregory Blasbulg said, “The North Kingston School Board is going through difficult times. ... I and my school board colleagues understand people's concerns. ”

Also read: North Kingstown City split after allegations against coach

However, Blasbalg said that until all domestic and civil investigations, as well as the criminal investigation into Thomas's attorney general, are completed, the committee will not be able to comment on the allegations, as many residents would like.

"We need to balance the need to publicize every aspect of each study with the rights of each participant," he said. "I understand that this upsets some members of our society and makes me very upset. However, we must be honest and rely on facts, not rumors and speculations.

Write to Tom Munie at tmooney@providencejournal.com