FORKS — The Quillayute Valley School Board has accepted the resignation of Craig Shetterly, Forks High School head football coach and teacher.
The board did not discuss the resignation during the open meeting Tuesday night, and voted 3-0 to accept Shetterly’s resignation after an executive session.
No reason was given for the resignation.
Bill Rohde, Mike Reaves and Ron Hurn each voted to accept the resignation.
Board member Dave Dickson was not present for the meeting, and Position 4 has remained vacant since the October resignation of Rick Gale.
Three members of the public registered to speak during the public comment session.
Closed comments
Superintendent Diana Reaume told the audience of about 10 people that matters dealing with specific, named students and staff could not be used in public comments in open session, and that the board would have to recess to executive session to hear such concerns.
The first speaker asked to go to executive session, and the board returned after hearing those comments.
A member of the public asked the board the difference between a resignation and a firing.
Rohde said a firing is for cause, initiated by the school district, while a resignation is the employee’s action.
A third member of the public also indicated his comments would need to be heard in private, and the board held another brief executive session.
After the meeting, Reaume declined to provide copies of Shetterly’s resignation letter when the Peninsula Daily News asked her to do so.
Investigation
Reaume was asked if the coach was the focus of an internal investigation into allegations of improper communications between an unidentified staff member and a student.
The investigation began in late October.
Reaume said she would not confirm the name of the school employee who was the focus of the investigation.
She declined a request for a copy of results of the internal investigation.
In October, Clallam County Sheriff’s Office officials said investigators had completed an investigation into the allegation at the request of a district parent.
That investigation found no evidence that any law had been broken, said Chief Criminal Deputy Brian King.
Reaume said that a public records request would be required for access to the documents.
Any persons involved in the investigation would have to be informed of the request, she said.
She added that a release of that information would be opposed by at least one person named in the documents.
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5070, or at arice@peninsuladailynews.com.
