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- Juab School Board dismisses large crowd after explaining their position on privacy of personnel issues
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SCHOOL BOARD MEETING • “Not the usual crowd” turned up at last week’s school board meeting. Most were, wrestlers and their supporters who wanted to address the board about supporting Coach Andy Messersmith. The board did not let them speak and they left upset at the board. Photo Myrna Trauntvein
By Myrna Trauntvein
Times-News Correspondent
An altercation between a student and coach at Juab High that occurred on Wednesday, January 13, has led to the coach being placed on paid administrative leave.
Andy Messersmith, wrestling coach, physical education teacher and history teacher at the school, was later charged with disorderly conduct in the Nephi City Court.
The student, as a minor, is protected from public identification by law.
Juab High School Principal Rick Robins only would confirm that there was some sort of a confrontation. This week he is out of town attending the annual winter conference of the Utah Principal’s Association and so was not available for further questions.
Earlier, Robins said, “We’re aware of some allegations that one of our coaches was involved in a situation with a student after school.”
Robins was called upon to investigate the allegations which took place after school hours.
“I think you are aware of the limitations that we have in talking about specifics,” said Dr. Kirk Wright, superintendent. “Mr. Messersmith remains on paid district administrative leave until the process (referred to later in this article) runs its course.”
A large group of students and townspeople showed up at school board meeting on Wednesday, January 20. They packed the room but none were allowed to speak to the personnel issue.
At the beginning of the meeting, Juab School District Board President, Delanie Hathaway, made the announcement that no public nor private comments could be made.
“If you are here to address a personnel issue, we cannot take comments in open session,” said Hathaway.
At that point, the large group filed out in an orderly and quiet fashion. She said that no comments would be taken in executive session as well.
Later she said that the school district board of education may be called upon to make some decisions that should not be prejudiced.
“Juab School District Board members and District administrators are aware and respect the intensity and diversity of community feelings about this issue,” said Wright.
“However the district, like most other civic entities in the state, cannot discuss the specifics of personnel issues until the issue is resolved, and then only if it does not violate the rights of the individual,” he said. “School Districts in Utah operate under ‘orderly dismissal laws’ that guarantee the rights of employees. In this case the Juab Board is following these legal protocols. These procedures detail the specific reasons for dismissal to a person and outline available recourses to the employee, up to, and including a formal hearing.”
Messersmith and the student had a disagreement that began during a badminton game in a physical education class the last hour of the day.
Following school, Messersmith and the student had a further altercation when the student was seen sitting on a bench outside the gym and near the cafeteria.
“I can confirm a charge was filed last week, but I would caution that any person who is charged with violating the law is presumed innocent until proven otherwise through the due process of law,” said Jared Eldridge, county attorney.
The charge came through the city where Eldridge serves as city attorney and was for what is considered a “minor” charge, a misdemeanor.
A typical definition of disorderly conduct defines the offense in these ways: A person who recklessly, knowingly, or intentionally engages in fighting or in tumultuous conduct; makes unreasonable noise and continues to do so after being asked to stop; disrupts a lawful assembly of persons; or commits disorderly conduct.
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