By Scott Brinton
Kiefer wondered what had become of the two former Mepham High School football coaches who were put on "special assignment" after it was revealed that three varsity players had sexually abused three younger teammates at an August 2003 training camp. The former coaches ran the week-long camp in Pennsylvania.
Nearly a year has passed since the former coaches -- Kevin McElroy and Art Canestro, both Mepham teachers -- were removed from the classroom and put on desk duty at the Brookside School, an administrative building in North Merrick. The two have reportedly been writing curriculum there ever since.
Little is known about what will become of the pair. Several residents called for them to be fired as teachers. To do that, though, the district must undertake what is called a 3020-A proceeding, essentially a hearing with an arbitrator of the coaches' choice. According to state education law, the hearing officer's decision would be binding.
Whether the Central District will follow through with such a proceeding is unclear. Caramore said he would not talk about the coaches, explaining that state law prevents him from speaking about "personnel matters" publicly.
The superintendent did say that two full-time teachers had been hired to replace the former coaches at Mepham. In response to Kiefer's questions, Caramore also acknowledged that the new teachers were receiving benefits, but would not say whether they were permanent replacements, or whether they are being paid on a per diem basis or are salaried employees.
Kiefer said that, as a taxpayer, he believed he had the right to know how and what the district was paying the new teachers while it also employs McElroy and Canestro. "I had a whole series of questions I had to ask Dr. Caramore, and I was shut down," Kiefer said after the board meeting. "People should know what's happening."
If given the chance, Kiefer said, he would have asked the superintendent the following:
€What are McElroy and Canestro doing on special assignment?
€Why are they on special assignment?
€Where are they?
€Are they receiving their regular pay?
€Are they writing curriculum?
€How long will they be on special assignment?
€Will they be brought up on charges?
Two of the three perpetrators in the sex attacks were sentenced to short stays in Pennsylvania juvenile-detention facilities last winter and spring, while the third was put on probation at home with his family. By last September, all three were reportedly back in Bellmore-Merrick.
The families of the three abuse victims have filed multiple lawsuits against the Central District and all five of the coaches at the camp. Civil proceedings got under way recently.
Comments about this story? SBrinton@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 203.
