DEXTER, Maine — Disciplinary action is expected to be taken against the two football coaches who were chaperoning an overnight event at Dexter Regional High School last month at which several hazing incidents occurred, according to SAD 46 Superintendent Kevin Jordan.
However, exactly what action will be taken by the school district is unclear.
“At this point, [nothing has been done to the coaches],” Jordan said Wednesday. “We feel it’s important that the two coaches are involved in the community service.”
The entire football team was required to perform community service in response to the hazing incidents.
The football team had an overnight gathering on Nov. 16 and 17 at the high school, where five incidents of hazing occurred, according to Jordan. The first took place at 4:30 p.m. Nov. 16, while the other four happened between 4:30 and 5:15 a.m. Nov. 17. Three of the five reported hazing incidents were caught on the school’s video surveillance system.
Two coaches were chaperoning the event during the hazing incidents on Nov. 16-17 — head coach Kevin Armstrong and assistant coach Matthew Hubbell, according to Jordan. Other coaches chaperoned the event that night but were sent home before the four incidents occurred on Nov. 17, said Jordan.
As a result of the overnight gathering, 12 players on the football team were suspended from school for hazing underclassmen on the team. The perpetrators and victims were all minors.
Four students were suspended from school for 10 days, two were suspended seven days and six were suspended for one day, Jordan said. The students also are barred from participating in competitive after-school events for periods ranging from one week to one month, depending on involvement.
Three of the alleged perpetrators were charged with Class D assault, a misdemeanor, by the Dexter Police Department. They were not named by police because they are minors.
Dexter Police Chief Kevin Wintle said Wednesday that no charges are expected to be lodged against the two coaches.
Neither Armstrong nor Hubbell could be reached for comment Wednesday evening.
Jordan said extracurricular appointments are chosen every spring.
“Extracurricular contracts in Maine are all one-year contracts,” said Jordan. “Every coach would need to be recommended by the principal, and then the superintendent and then to the board to be reappointed.”
There are many possible actions that could be taken against the coaches, he said.
“It could be a whole range of things from nothing to not bringing them up for renewal for their job for next year,” said Jordan. “It will not be nothing, but there will be something done. I’ve had many discussions and, frankly, our decision-making is somewhat based on the response and the working through the community service piece with the team.”
Many of the players have started or completed their community service, said Dexter Regional High School Principal Steve Bell.
Players who were suspended from school for 10 days each must perform eight hours of community service, said Bell. Those who were suspended for seven days must do four hours of community service. The entire team was required to take part in some community service.
Coaches Armstrong and Hubbell also are taking part in the community service, according to Jordan.
“I believe many of [the coaches on the team are] involved [in the community service],” said Jordan. “The only two that are asked to head it up are the ones that were there.”
Bell said two organizations benefited from the football team’s service.
The New Hope Baptist Church and the Wassookeag Snowmobile Club were selected for community service.
“We traditionally run a lot of community service through [the church],” said Bell. “They’re very good about taking kids in. They likely had them working the food cupboard, cleaning the parking lot or painting. There’s plenty for them to do.”
Bell said some students were very motivated to get the community service done because it is required before they could compete on a sports team. Several of the suspended players are now on the wrestling and basketball teams.
“Some of the kids trying to pursue athletics had more motivation to get it done quickly,” said Bell. “We will stay on them. It’s very much a part of their expectation.”
If you’re in charge of someone and they commit a violent crime while under your care/supervision then clearly you’ve failed badly to do your job. Consequences should be expected. If I were in this position I’d expect to lose my coaching job. In fact, out of respect to the position I’d give it up long before anyone thought much about taking it away.
These are students soon to enter adulthood, they are at fault! When did parents and the community stop respecting educators and allowing them to take the blame for the misdeeds of their children.
Lucky they are not facing a law suit.
so far
Having the school involved in an “overnight event” for teenagers, at the high school to boot, seems like a particularly stupid idea these days. As night follows day, there will probably be mischief, even with chaperones present. So if there’s going to be “disciplinary action”, it should be taken against the idiot(s) in the school bureaucracy who authorized the event.
they shouldnt be able to play any sports for the rest of the year!
They must have come from the right families.
Let us compare: Bangor High Hockey players relieve themselves in a jar: Coach resigns within week of incident, stating it is the right thing to do; Dexter High Football players beat younger kids with baseball bats: Punishment for Coaches is still not addressed two months later.
VERY UNFAIR to the esteemed Dexter coaches. The Bangor High incident was beyond the pale. Lucky no one went to jail. The Dexter coaches remain as “role models” for coaches nationwide.
The coaches were there chaperoning the event while there was hazing going on at the event? A coach that lets hazing go on doesnt sound like a role model to me.
Good thing the Dexter footballers didn’t PEE on the baseball bats first!
Wiffle bats?
Sure does make a difference from what town and who the Superintendent is doesnt it. Webb gets rid of Collins at Bangor because he doesnt stop for the bathroom, while in Dexter, these two coaches get away with allowing this type of stuff to happen? I dont honestly get it? Where is the MPAA throughout all of this?
The Dexter coach’s must have provided pee breaks in between swings.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but the article states that “The entire football team was required to preform community service in response to the hazing incidents.” The term “entire” would seem to include those who were the victims of the hazing. They are being given the same restrictions as those who committed the hazing. It what other situations are people punished for being victims?
Who’s responsible for the attack at 4pm when the coaches were no ware near the high school? Who is responsible for the Culture of Hazing that has been going on at Dexter for years? Is it a coaching staff brought in Six months ago? Is it 17 year olds who felt it was their right to do this since they were hazed as Freshmen? This administration continues to Point fingers and push blame without answering any of the tough questions.
this sh$t is getting stupid! they want the coaches to do com. service and
then they are going to fire them. the whole town of dexter is becoming a joke
for this. one of the players comm. service was to required him to get the vice
principle/A.director a soda when ever he wanted?? other kids are cleaning
bathrooms. so can you tell us how STUPID this town really is with all the high
school higher ups are a real joke!
The handling of this situation by the administration and school board is FAR beyond disturbing. One would have to draw a graph to display the multiple personal connections and adgendas involved of both administration and school board members that handed down the bare-minimum punishments to these “good boys”. And a majority of Dexter is not happy about it.
Sadly, three or four boys from a team full of otherwise great kids, brought shame to their teammates, coaches, school sport and town. Upsetting to say the least, but we can move on.
The administration of DRHS had a chance to take a stand against bullying and they didn’t; a winning season and favors were more important. This abuse of our trust is NOT so easy to move on from, as these are supposedly educated men in charge of the well-being of ALL the town’s children. The administration’s obvious, to the point of arrogant, mishandling of this event will be their own un-doing. Something stinks.