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Nature Coast strikes back

Amid allegations of misconduct and recruiting, the school wants county officials to mediate or it will explore legal options.

By VINCENT THOMAS
Published March 29, 2006

BROOKSVILLE - Earlier this month, as Nature Coast weathered accusations of administrative misconduct and alleged recruiting violations by other schools in the county, principal Tizzy Schoelles and athletic director Joy Greene said they were taking it personally.

The claims, baseless according to Schoelles, were sullying their reputations and that of their staffs. At the time, when asked if there was the possibility of legal action, Schoelles said she had not contacted an attorney, but "I always keep a lawyer on retainer."

Weeks later, it appears the Nature Coast staff is not willing to stand idly by while this conflict plays out.

In a letter, obtained from the Hernando County Public Schools' office, the Nature Coast athletic staff requested superintendent Wendy Tellone intervene "in the escalating situation between NCT and the three other high schools in the county.

"We have now reached a point where we feel our professional reputations, and therefore our careers, are under attack," the letter reads. "We feel that there may soon be no other recourse than to pursue legal action against those who continue to attack our reputation with unsubstantiated claims. We have made initial contact with our attorneys and are prepared to move forward should the accusations continue."

The letter concluded: "We trust that you will address this matter immediately, as time is of the essence to prevent further escalation of the situation and further damage to our reputation as coaches and as a school."

Whether it is Nature Coast threatening lawsuits or Central, Hernando and Springstead previously threatening to pull out of the Hernando County Athletic Conference, it is clear both sides agree the conflict has reached a critical level and all parties are looking to county officials to proactively resolve the issue.

Sonya Jackson, who Tellone has directed all questions, said the county is in the beginning stages of a "thorough investigation."

Jackson, new to her role overseeing the county's athletic departments, said she has been in contact with the Florida High School Athletic Association to determine the proper steps to take if some of the allegations against Nature Coast prove true.

No new evidence has been provided by Springstead, Central or Hernando, but as Jackson sat the table in her office and sifted through three folders full of documents, she said the county intends to diligently pursue these matters.

"Any (allegation) that has come in or is to come in, we're going to fully investigate."

As it stands, Jackson said Central, Springstead and Hernando principals are aware of the letter sent to Tellone and the resulting investigation. The athletic directors for those schools, however, said they have no knowledge of the letter.

In the letter, Nature Coast's staff described the allegations as "a slander and defamation campaign." The county's other athletic directors disagree and seem unaffected.

Springstead's Bob Levija said his principal, Susan Duvall, advised him to "stay out of it,"so he declined to comment. Brent Gaustad, Hernando's athletic director, said the prospect of a lawsuit doesn't concern him much.

"I'm just doing my job to protect my coaches," he said.

John Sedlack is nearing the end of his tenure with Central, but he's still invested in the issue and wants "what's best for Central."

"What's right is right and what's wrong is wrong. You just have to have faith in the people making decisions that they will get to the bottom of this," he said.

"There's an old saying: It'll all come out in the wash."

Vincent Thomas can be reached at vthomas@sptimes.com or 352 848-1430.

[Last modified March 29, 2006, 01:23:20]