Roy Exum
When a team of investigators descends on Ooltewah High School at the request of District Attorney Neal Pinkston, they had better pack a healthy lunch and reams of note paper. The investigators will find, according to multiple sources, a series of assaults within the boys’ basketball program have been prevalent in recent years, hidden behind innocent words like hazing and bullying. And what else they will uncover is every bit as unbelievable as the fact the basketball team is continuing to play as though nothing ever happened.
While many believe the assault and rape of an Ooltewah athlete by his own teammates is the most heinous crime they can remember in Chattanooga prep sports, it turns out there have been hijinks galore at Ooltewah in recent years. Not long ago the older brother of the alleged ringleader in last month’s attack (who assaulted a 15-year-old freshman with a pool stick and ruptured his colon and his bladder) was arrested for the rape of a UTC coed. Alleged rapist No. 1 graduated from Ooltewah in 2011.
Three years ago Ooltewah High’s principal was eventually fired after he had a torrid affair with an assistant principal, this with the full faculty well aware of the disarming misbehavior. It was allegedly reported to Superintendent Rick Smith, who said he would look into it, but not until an enraged husband actually presented Smith with tapes and photographs. Witnesses say nothing was done. “He’s not a leader at all; if (last month’s rape) had happened on any former superintendent’s term, it would have been handled the very next day. I say clean house from top to bottom!” said an enraged elementary teacher.
The investigators may also like to talk to this recent grad: “As an unfortunate Ooltewah graduate, I thoroughly agree with the fact that athletics matter more at Ooltewah than anything else. For example, when the current football coach was hired in 2012 (a close friend) had to endure his teaching or lack thereof. Many times he would be late or not show up because he was too busy dealing with the athletics that was clearly the only reason he was hired.
“Personally, I was verbally harassed during my choir class that was required to graduate. My parents had to get involved after some of the boys in my class (who just happened to be athletes) threatened to kill me,” the grad’s email read. “ (Name redacted) wanted me to sit in his office during that class period everyday (which I denied to do since everyone had their suspicions of an affair going on at the time) but I was informed nothing was done to the boys who threatened me repeatedly.
“I refuse to let my children go to this school when the time comes, and am very thankful that HCDE approved my brother's hardship to Central High School.”
A former administrator in the Hamilton County Department of Education, has come forth to say “these are exactly the type of cover-ups that caused me to retire.” The administrator, who served as vice principal at numerous schools, said at one school when the administrator actually caught a third-grader selling marijuana and – get this – the vice principal was issued an official reprimand for “calling the police. I was told it made the school look bad.” (She has proof!)
Another former teacher at Ooltewah, who transferred to the state of Georgia after a lengthy career, said in a telephone conversation that the high school started “getting bad” shortly before he left. The bullying got worse … “when a 6-foot-4 guy who weighs 220 jerked a 90-pound ninth-grader out of the lunch line, what’s the kid going to do? Athletes were given carte blanche but that was a big reason we didn’t win like we could have – eventually players distrusted and didn’t like each other.”
He also said the “central office” was regarded by most teachers as a joke. “If you’ll go on ‘Right To Know’ (a Times Free Press website) you can see for yourself – an administrative assistant at the Hamilton County Department of Education – little more than a secretary, makes more than a teacher with 30 years’ experience and a PhD. The whole thing is based on the buddy system – it’s all about who you know.”
The vice principal said cronyism is rampant. “It is all about ‘loyalty.’ Their definition of ‘loyalty’ is being loyal to your supervisor and the system. Definitely not loyalty to God, ethics or students/parents. The only way you get their attention is to go to the media but that costs you your job.”
The vice-principal met with Smith after resigning, telling him why. “He was kind and quite courteous … but he just can’t make tough decisions.” The vice principal said most in the system are horribly disappointed in the way Smith has seemingly ignored the raped student. Instead he appointed Assistant Superintendent Lee McDade to handle the matter. “Smith is scared to death of the ‘flack’ that is coming his way … and is hoping the legal system will barge in where he doesn’t have to do anything.”
Smith has already come under harsh ridicule for refusing to comment on the Dec. 22 attack that put the 15-year-old basketball player in emergency surgery and eight days in the hospital. After the child was attacked, Ooltewah’s basketball team played the very next night. Just as unbelievable, neither the school system nor the School Board have responded to overwhelming public rage when it is universally believed the season should be cancelled, the athletic director and head basketball coach fired and the principal – who also hasn’t spoken a word publicly – be allowed to, albeit shamefully, retire.
Andre Montgomery, the embattled basketball coach, has “lawyered up,” despite Athletic Director Jessie Nayadley’s claim “he has done nothing wrong” and lawyer Curtis Bowe praised the Ooltewah administration for “avoiding a knee jerk reaction.” Of course, this was just hours before the increasing public rage triggered Hamilton County District Attorney Pinkston and Sheriff Jim Hammond to launch an immediate investigation that could well result in “child endangerment” and other criminal charges.
Thank goodness the Gatlinburg Police and a trauma surgeon at UT Hospital in Knoxville followed their knee-jerk instincts. The Hamilton County School Board, also seeming oblivious to the tragedy that has infuriated faculties, parents and students alike in the county, is scheduled to meet with an attorney in a closed session at 5:30 p.m. tomorrow before facing what is anticipated to be a most-concerned crowd approximately 30 minutes later. A petition signed by more than 100 Ooltewah High alumni is asking the School Board to launch a similar investigation.
In a funny aside, when investigators look at the state of Tennessee Education Licensure website, they will discover basketball coach Andre Juan Montgomery has not been licensed to teach in the three years he has been the coach under athletic director Nayadley. Montgomery, who it is widely believed was hired primarily as a basketball coach, instead has a “permit” of some type that has been renewed each year under “transitional” status, whatever that means, but his status is listed as “inactive” according to the state’s website.
Montgomery, called “Tank” in his inner circle, is under the heaviest criticism after the attack occurred and there is a myriad of questions waiting when he and his attorney face the proper authorities. Educators across Tennessee are castigating Montgomery for broaching the vow of “in loco parentis,” which teachers and coaches alike know is that the total responsibility of a child falls on the coach if the parents are not present, such as an out-of-town ball game.
“Normally the state will take away your license if a person fails that requirement but this guy doesn’t have one!” said another Ooltewah educator.
The overwhelming plea to the School Board, the investigators and the public-at-large?
“Don't let up on pushing resolution and investigation into the awful things that has happened to this child. This does not need to happen to another child. Personally, I don't know WHY a parent/grandparent would continue to let their child play on this team!! I am a parent, and I can't help but place my child in that situation!
“Parents trust their children with these adults. They trust that the chaperones will keep their child safe. Students don't just decide one day to do what was done in this situation. This is a behavior that has escalated. Something needs to change, or this will happen again; or even worse.
“People in HCDE are more concerned about keeping their jobs than doing them. As long as something is covered up; it's allowed to continue. To say that the coaches ‘did nothing wrong’ is to say that this could not have been prevented!”
My sentiments exactly.
royexum@aol.com