PROCTORVILLE – Fairland Board of Education members requested a hearing to look into the behavior of veteran high school girls’ basketball coach and former football coach Jack Harris.

Tuesday, May 09, 2000

PROCTORVILLE – Fairland Board of Education members requested a hearing to look into the behavior of veteran high school girls’ basketball coach and former football coach Jack Harris.

"I’ve been instructed by the board of education to schedule a hearing in order to determine what, if any, disciplinary action should be imposed against Mr. Harris," superintendent Jerry McConnell said.

Before making their decision, board members met with their attorney, J. Rick Brown, Don Dalton of the Ohio Education Association and Harris’ and OEA’s attorney Erika Pearsol-Christie for two hours in executive session at Monday night’s regular Fairland Board of Education meeting.

McConnell was expected to present a report of his findings to board members after being instructed to investigate the incident at an April special meeting.

Board members voted unanimously against renewing Harris’ coaching contract for the 2000-2001 school year at the same April meeting. Board members also voted 4-2 to suspend him from teaching, with full pay and benefits.

That decision came after a report by Fairland High School principal Eddie Capper, who investigated the incidents that allegedly involved the inappropriate use of curse words during basketball practice and the playing of a sexually-explicit song.

This is not the first time Harris has been accused of misconduct.

In 1998, board members investigated Harris’ behavior at an end-of-the-school-year party after receiving complaints from parents. At that time, Harris coached both football and girls basketball. He was suspended from his duties for one year.

Concerned parents will not let this incident end with just a slap on the wrist, however, said Kathy Walls, whose daughter plays on Harris’ basketball team.

"I feel really violated," Mrs. Walls said. "You send your kids to school to be safe You teach your kids to respect adults And somebody commits a crime against them.

"My daughter’s the love of my life. She’s not perfect, but she’s a good girl. It just infuriates me that someone would do this to her."

It’s frustrating that the issue has not been resolved yet, Mrs. Walls said after the board meeting.

"I think they are dragging it out," she said. "It’s really disappointing. I wish they wouldn’t drag it out."

If not satisfied with the board’s final decision, Mrs. Walls will pursue civil action. But she is not looking for a cash payout.

"I don’t want anything out of it," Mrs. Walls said. "I just don’t want him teaching. It would be hypocritical of me to say I want him out of Fairland, but let him go teach somewhere else."

Harris has been employed with the Fairland School District for more than 20 years. In the three years he has coached girls basketball, the team has brought home three Ohio Valley Conference titles.

Attorneys representing Fairland School District and Harris would not comment.

"While the matter is pending, I don’t feel it’s appropriate to discuss it," Brown said.