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School board fires assistant football coach

Thom Duncan has been released from his football assistant coaching duties at Huntington North High School.

Duncan will, however, keep his job as a social studies teacher at Huntington North High School.

The firing was approved 6-1 at the Huntington County Community School Corporation Board of Trustees meeting on Monday, Oct. 26.

Duncan was ejected from a Sept. 12 junior varsity football game at Logansport. At that time, he was suspended by the Indiana High School Athletics Association. HCCSC Superintendent Tracey Shafer suspended Duncan with pay for seven school days during the investigation, which was triggered by the IHSAA's actions.

The reason for the ejection was Duncan's use of profanity toward the referees. However, Shafer says that once he opened the investigation, he saw that same behavior towards players as well.

Terms of employment were created by Shafer in the form of a letter, which he presented to Duncan during a meeting of the two and which was also approved at the board meeting.

Shafer said in his letter that he found that Duncan used profanity toward players, staff and officials and demonstrated both a disrespectful attitude and lack of professionalism. By his actions, Shafer continued, Duncan "substantially violated the conduct" of both the HNHS athletic department and of the corporation, which holds that the coaches are role models in the community and must maintain a professional demeanor while recognizing the basic dignity of those surrounding them.

Shafer said he found that Duncan executed "no willful effort to comply" with the conduct guidelines.

The board also approved Shafer's recommendation that Duncan is not to be considered for any school coaching position in the future and is to strictly follow the employment directions from here on out or he will be released from his teaching job.

King questioned letting Duncan return to the classroom at all, but Patrick said that because the incidents did not occur in the classroom, the termination applies only to the coaching aspect of Duncan's employment with the corporation.

Upon approval of the termination, the paid suspension was converted to a temporary disciplinary suspension, which Duncan already served.

Those voting with the majority were members Troy Smart, Scott Hoffman, Rex Baxter and Dr. Jennifer Goff, Patrick and Vice President Rick Brubaker. Opposed was member King.