La Sierra High School Complaint Investigation

FOOTBALL PROGRAM

Investigator:

Errol Garnett Director, Human Resources Alvord Unified School District

Date of Report: April 18, 2013

Summary Report of LSHS Investigation

Background This investigation was prompted by a general allegation against the Head Coach of the LSHS Football Program, alleging a general lack of oversight. Three specific allegations became the focus of the investigation Allegations and Investigation The first claim was made by three students regarding an incident that took place in the weight room in December of 2012, before winter break. It was noted that the three student statements were reported on March 4, 2013. The student statements claimed that Mr. Carroll had grouped three African-American male football players together in the same lifting group. The students claimed that he made the comment Sorry for putting your kind together and a reference to him not having a pointy white hat. The students felt the pointy white hat comment was a reference to Mr. Carroll not being in the Ku Klux Klan. In our investigation, Mr. Carroll stated he did not remember anything like that at all. He commented that this supposedly happened in December and he was just finding out about it now. Mr. Carroll stated that he gets along well with these students and that Mr. Carroll has not had a problem with these students at all since the students returned back from winter break. Mr. Carroll and I then discussed the second claim made by three students regarding an incident that took place in the weight room on February 28, 2013. The students reported the incident on March 6, 2013. One student complainant and two student witnesses claimed that Mr. Carroll struck the complainants arm during the clean-up section of the weight lifting class. Mr. Carroll remembered this incident and knew exactly what happened. He stated that the student had just returned to class after the wrestling season ended. The student was in charge of correctly positioning the squat racks. The student was directed verbally multiple times prior to Mr. Carrolls physical redirect to cease and desist from using the method he was using to return the squat rack into its proper position. Mr. Carroll stated he grabbed the arm of the student to move him out of the way so Mr. Carroll could properly demonstrate the procedure used to return the squat rack to its proper position. During this class period on February 28, 2013, the student was never where he was supposed to be; Mr. Carroll indicated he got on him throughout the period prior to this incident. Then later , Mr. Carroll realized the student did not know the correct football weight room safety protocols and procedures due to the fact that he was away from football conditioning and in the wrestling program for an extended period of time. Mr. Carroll met with the student the next day to talk to him about his realization that he was unfamiliar with the weight room rules, protocols and procedures that lead to the unfortunate misunderstanding on the prior day. At the end of the conversation, the student told Mr. Carroll he did not like having anyone put their hands on him for any reason. According to the student and Mr. Carroll,

Mr. Carroll asked the student if he thought there was any malicious intent on his part. The student responded, no. Mr. Carroll then told him My bad. Although the incident was unfortunate, the student did not believe Mr. Carroll did this with malicious intent. Mr. Carroll indicated he asked the student if everything was OK between the two of them, and the student responded that it was OK. This information was confirmed with the student during the investigation. A third allegation involved an Assistant Coachs complaint that he was let go in retaliation for reporting an incident to administration. In response, the Head Coach indicated he was released from employment due to texting students and arranging offcampus practices without the knowledge or approval of the Head Coach or site administration. This was confirmed by several students. The investigation has shown by a preponderance of the evidence that the December incident took place as described by the three students. The issue is clouded due to the fact that it was not reported for 3 months but each of the students interviewed was found to be credible. Each stated that they believed the statement Mr. Carroll made was not intended to be malicious. They did all state however, that the references to them all of the same kind being in the same group and the comment about not having a pointy white hat was inappropriate and made them feel uncomfortable. All three also stated that it was a one-time event and that they did not have any other issues with Mr. Carroll or anything else Mr. Carroll has said to them prior to or since the one incident. Moving forward, Mr. Carroll was directed to not make any inappropriate comments to students for any reason, including, but not limited to, comments of a racial, ethnic, and/or cultural nature. The investigation with regards toward the second incident also leads to a conclusion that the weight room incident took place as described. The investigation indicates that there was no malice meant toward the student when Mr. Carroll redirected his arm. Mr. Carroll has been directed to not redirect a student physically in class unless students give him permission to help them with the proper lifting technique or if there is a student safety situation which exists where there is no time to get the students permission before redirecting them physically. Finally, a preponderance of evidence confirms that there was a legitimate concern for the conduct of the Assistant Coach who was let go, and that the release from employment was not motivated by retaliation. Finding #1 During a weight room class period December of 2012, Mr. Carroll exercised poor judgment when he made the comments regarding students of your kind being in the same lifting group. The teacher also made a follow up comment, likely in a misguided attempt at levity to make up for the first comment, that it was not like he was wearing a pointy white hat. Although the comments were inappropriate, there was no intent of malice associated with the comments however it was still inappropriate.

Finding #2 A student in the weight room sometime in March was redirected physically by the weight room teacher. The student found the redirection to be unnecessary and uncalled for. The student did state however that he is especially sensitive to be touched in any way and since the incident, the teacher had explained to him why he was redirected and apologized for any misunderstanding. This was a one-time event and there was no pattern of physical redirections found during the investigation.

Finding #3 The assistant coach, along with another assistant coach, was texting and contacting players and inviting them to practice off campus without the knowledge of the head football coach. This was the reason for the release from employment. Finding #4 All incidents happened in isolation and did not appear to be connected. While there is no indication of a systemic lack of oversight which directly lead to these allegations, there is reason to seek an improvement in the oversight of the football program. All incidents reported were found to be done without malice or harmful intent. All the students and staff involved have indicated that they have moved on from the reports and feel comfortable that the situation has been handled and ready to move forward in the future.

Recommendations
Recommendation #1 Accept the resignation of the head coach and move forward hiring a new head football coach. Recommendation #2 Impose and/or reinforce corrective and remedial action with Mr. Carroll as deemed necessary to prevent future inappropriate comments or incidents of racial insensitivity. Recommendation #3 Meeting and follow up with the weight room instructor including but not limited to new weight room standards and procedures in regards to verbal communication and physical redirecting of students. Recommendation #4 Meet with football parents and booster club to give an overview of the incidents, a summary of the conclusions made and the plan moving forward.