By SAMANTHA BEAL
Clarion News writer
Allegations of misappropriating fundraising money lead to months of executive sessions, personal accounts and school board votes regarding the contract renewal of former Clarion-Limestone softball coach Rob Schimp.
In a 9-2 vote, the school board elected not to renew Schimp’s contract Sept. 19 following testimony from C-L booster president of eight years Melissa Kemmer-Daugherty, given during a closed-door session.
Schimp attended the Oct. 17 board meeting to speak out against the decision. Citing the Sunshine Act, he indicated he believes his rights were violated because he wasn’t given a chance to share his side of the story before the vote.
In fact, Section 708 of the Sunshine Act stipulates an individual employee whose employment is being discussed in executive session “may request, in writing, that the matter be discussed at an open meeting.” The agency may still decide to talk in executive session.
The board agreed to convene in executive session with Schimp following the Oct. 17 meeting. It did not reconvene. In the following days, Schimp was given a formal interview for the coaching position by high school principal Mel Aaron. Schimp said he decided not to take the job.
Schimp contacted the CLARION NEWS to share his view of the events. He explained the decision to interview came up during the Oct. 17 executive session.
“There was a suggestion (that) if I was still interested in coaching, I could contact Mel Aaron,” Schimp said in a telephone conversation with the CLARION NEWS.
He explained the interview was not so much about his qualifications he said his year as a C-L softball coach proved his competency as the issue regarding money.
According to Schimp, the incident started with a “parent-organized” hoagie sale fundraiser in mid-March. The fundraiser was not associated with the C-L boosters club and turned a profit of about $860. (Schimp explained it raised $870, but $9 were returned to a parent after more sandwiches were paid for than delivered.)
About $600 went to team apparel for the team’s 13 players. Schimp said the remaining $260 were “earmarked” for a September entry fee that would allow the team to play in a Cochranton travel league.
“I’ve been involved in travel ball (for) five, six years,” he added.
He kept the $260 himself, though he said he documented the money.
“I keep paperwork,” Schimp said. “I’ve been around.”
Kemmer-Daugherty said the boosters were told there was no money left from the fundraiser after the team purchased apparel. This information wasn’t an issue until money turned up at the end of summer.
“We were told that there were no (additional) profits from the fundraiser,” Kemmer-Daugherty explained. “Then we were given the money, which is fine, the money was turned in.”
Nevertheless, Kemmer-Daugherty felt Aaron and Bell should know about the incident.
“I just felt it was important that they were aware,” she added.
She asked to talk to them in late August, the same day Aaron and Bell spoke with Schimp.
After Schimp was questioned in the morning, Kemmer-Daugherty received a text from Bell saying her testimony wasn’t needed.
“I wasn’t given the opportunity to tell Brandon and Mel,” Kemmer-Daugherty said.
Schimp believes the issue first arose because someone was upset with the apparel vendor the team used.
“It’s regrettable. I feel bad,” Schimp admitted. “There’s always someone that has a beef, for whatever reason.”
Kemmer-Daugherty explained the issue was about policy, not preference.
“It’s nothing personal,” she said. “My job is to keep everyone in check.”
Kemmer-Daugherty explained because C-L has one booster club that handles accounts for every team, the rules must be uniform across the board. If one team was treated special, other teams would want that, too.
“If you run a fundraiser through the club, the check is made out to the booster club, the money is deposited in the booster club (account),” she said.
Kemmer-Daugherty explained failing to deposit profits for some length of time is not “typical.” As booster president, she is responsible for enforcing what is.
“My job is just to make sure everyone follows the rules,” said Kemmer-Daugherty. “It’s protecting (Schimp) as well as the booster club.”
The board tabled Schimp’s contract in August after questions were raised about the $260.
Schimp indicated Aaron and athletic director Brandon Bell were asked to question Schimp personally between the August and September meetings. Schimp felt he “might as well” deposit the $260 in the softball account at that time, considering there were not enough C-L players to make the travel league cut.
He said his deposit receipt from Aaron and Bell is dated Aug. 21.
At the September meeting, Kemmer announced she was supposed to share her side of the story with Aaron and other district officials, but was never given the chance.
The board convened in executive session to hear her side of the issue before reconvening and voting against Schimp’s contract.
After Schimp attended the Oct. 17 meeting, his contract was apparently reconsidered.
Despite taking up the board on an interview offer, he removed his name from the coaching pool. A combination of relatives still active in the district and worrying about future problems helped Schimp make his decision.
“As much as I enjoyed working with the girls last year, it’s not about me, it’s about them,” he said.
Schimp feels if he coached another season, he’d spend it looking over his shoulder to see who was going to accuse him of wrong-doing. He believes he’s made the right choice.
“I felt comfortable and somewhat satisfied with it all,” said Schimp. “There are people in the world that do those kinds of things, but I am not one of them.”
If Schimp had decided to pursue the job, Kemmer-Daugherty would have supported the school board’s position.
“The school board is the ultimate one who makes the decision,” she explained. “I would have treated him the same way I treat all the coaches.”