LEECHBURG, Pa. — Leechburg Area School District board members voted Wednesday night not to reappoint the high school’s basketball coach following an investigation into hazing allegations.
Parents, students and players for and against keeping Damian Davies as the head coach pleaded their cases one final time Wednesday before the board made its decision.%
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“Mr. Davies is the best teacher I've ever had,” one student said.
Davies came under scrutiny when Channel 11 News exposed hazing allegations involving members of the boys’ basketball team. No criminal charges were filed, but the board voted 5-3 not to renew Davies’ contract with the district.
Many students broke down crying after the decision was announced.
“It's difficult because that's what I did best for Leechburg,” Davies told Channel 11 News.
Those in attendance at Wednesday night’s meeting also put school leaders on blast following a series of other recent incidents in the school district.
“They need to be held accountable for what they are doing,” parent Marcy Kline said.
The Leechburg police chief said the district is under scrutiny for the fourth time this year for not immediately reporting incidents inside the school to authorities or parents in a timely manner.
In February, 10 years of alleged hazing on the boys’ basketball team surfaced, and a few months later in April, a student was found with a loaded gun in school. A man in possession of a knife was also recently arrested on school property, and last Friday, accusations were brought to the attention of police about a substitute teacher inappropriately touching female students. Police said they didn't hear about these cases for hours, days or, in the latest case, months after the district first knew.
School board member Anthony Shea told Channel 11 News over the phone Wednesday that he's outraged by the latest allegations. He said he heard about them through the media and not the district.
Shea said he believes there is a leadership void, a pattern of behavior where the district waters down the issue when telling board members.
Tiffany Brzezinski-Nix, Leechburg’s incoming superintendent who begins in July, told Channel 11 News that changes are on the horizon.
"I will make the changes necessary to make Leechburg what it can, should and will be,” she said.
As for the investigation into the allegations against the substitute teacher, the police chief said another female student has come forward, bringing the total number of alleged victims to 10.
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- Police: No charges to be filed despite 'valid' allegations of hazing on Leechburg HS basketball team
Cox Media Group
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