Union coach

[appyvol]

1 hour ago, swvavol said:

You would think that if an employee hadn't shown up for work and there was no contact to let the employer know why, it wouldn't take three months to fire them.  

I don't think they paid him just to pay him. Probably a perfect storm of events. He was suspended, why would he show up for work? So notices probably had to be sent, contact us regarding your employment status, and after x amount of time they were able to terminate him. I doubt there was a concerted effort to keep paying him, just had to go through the process. 

[Gridiron60]

5 hours ago, Union_Fan said:

I'm not surprised at all. I talked about this months ago. If people only knew what goes on in Wise Co schools behind the scenes. 

Probably ever school district but yeah, Wise seems to be in the news a lot lately. 

[Weatherman]

15 minutes ago, appyvol said:

I don't think they paid him just to pay him. Probably a perfect storm of events. He was suspended, why would he show up for work? So notices probably had to be sent, contact us regarding your employment status, and after x amount of time they were able to terminate him. I doubt there was a concerted effort to keep paying him, just had to go through the process. 

Exactly, enough said.

[Fairlawncat]

50 minutes ago, appyvol said:

I don't think they paid him just to pay him. Probably a perfect storm of events. He was suspended, why would he show up for work? So notices probably had to be sent, contact us regarding your employment status, and after x amount of time they were able to terminate him. I doubt there was a concerted effort to keep paying him, just had to go through the process. 

The "he was suspended" part is the initial problem (wasn't fired) and if "he was suspended" to let things play out, the playing out part/investigation shouldn't take 3 months. It should take a couple of weeks. The fact is, if what we are reading is true (and thats 50-50 nowadays) he wasn't terminated until very recently. That is Concerning and there is no other way to spin it. I understand being on the payroll for 3 months as it relates to possible PTO/Vacation time saved. I get that, but if what we are reading is true, he wasn't officially terminated until very recently and that part......I dont get.

[Union_Fan]

3 hours ago, Gridiron60 said:

Probably ever school district but yeah, Wise seems to be in the news a lot lately. 

I'm personally aware, not just rumors, of other counties doing shady stuff, and like you said, every county is guilty, but Wise Co loves to be #1. Lol

[BigWinners]

2 hours ago, Fairlawncat said:

The "he was suspended" part is the initial problem (wasn't fired) and if "he was suspended" to let things play out, the playing out part/investigation shouldn't take 3 months. It should take a couple of weeks. The fact is, if what we are reading is true (and thats 50-50 nowadays) he wasn't terminated until very recently. That is Concerning and there is no other way to spin it. I understand being on the payroll for 3 months as it relates to possible PTO/Vacation time saved. I get that, but if what we are reading is true, he wasn't officially terminated until very recently and that part......I dont get.

Im sure it’s a process and they have to cross all the ts and dot all the is. He still hasn’t been convicted of a crime and he prob had tenure so I’d say that played a part too. 

[Union_Fan]

2 hours ago, Fairlawncat said:

The "he was suspended" part is the initial problem (wasn't fired) and if "he was suspended" to let things play out, the playing out part/investigation shouldn't take 3 months. It should take a couple of weeks. The fact is, if what we are reading is true (and thats 50-50 nowadays) he wasn't terminated until very recently. That is Concerning and there is no other way to spin it. I understand being on the payroll for 3 months as it relates to possible PTO/Vacation time saved. I get that, but if what we are reading is true, he wasn't officially terminated until very recently and that part......I dont get.

I can't say definitively that they paid him to pay him, but I wouldn't doubt it.

The problem is the "official" statement by the superintendent.

School systems aren't held back 3 months. If a new teacher starts in August, they see their first check September 30th, so you're looking at 6 weeks, roughly.

Then, on the paid time off...teachers do not get vacation leave. They get sick leave and personal leave. Wise Co only lets employees accrue 5 days of personal leave, or 1 week.

Employees only get paid for vacation days if they retire at an approved VRS retirement time. That is only a measly $30-$40 per day.

He would get residual coaching stipends, as those are broken down monthly instead of a lump sum, for time already spent.

The coaching stipends are listed on the FOIA release. 

If you look at this information, it doesn't equate to 3 months of pay. Once he ceased communication, the SBO had a legal right to terminate him then. Saw this happen to a principal that was escaping punishment. Won't say what for. The school system left messages, sent email, letters and finally a registered letter to show they acted in good faith. Once the registered letter was "refused by recipient" they terminated their employment.

[Union_Fan]

3 minutes ago, BigWinners said:

Im sure it’s a process and they have to cross all the ts and dot all the is. He still hasn’t been convicted of a crime and he prob had tenure so I’d say that played a part too. 

Tenure is a paper tiger for K12 in Virginia. It does make it harder to fire teachers, but far from impossible.

His failure to communicate with his employer would be a valid reason for termination since he was no longer cooperating with the investigation.

Now, had he stayed, faced charges, and participated in a trial, his pay would have been placed in escrow until the verdict came. Guilty verdict or plea would have forfeited his employment and pay.

Innocent verdict would have given him all his pay back to date of suspension and restored his employment.

Oh well, hoping for brighter days ahead.

[Gridiron60]

1 minute ago, Union_Fan said:

Tenure is a paper tiger for K12 in Virginia. It does make it harder to fire teachers, but far from impossible.

His failure to communicate with his employer would be a valid reason for termination since he was no longer cooperating with the investigation.

Now, had he stayed, faced charges, and participated in a trial, his pay would have been placed in escrow until the verdict came. Guilty verdict or plea would have forfeited his employment and pay.

Innocent verdict would have given him all his pay back to date of suspension and restored his employment.

Oh well, hoping for brighter days ahead.

I’ve seen tenured teachers fired or given the option to resign for much less. 

[redtiger]

3 hours ago, Gridiron60 said:

Probably ever school district but yeah, Wise seems to be in the news a lot lately. 

That sorta thing snowballs once the microscope is on a subject(in this case Wise Co) then everything comes out 

[Unchained]

2 hours ago, Union_Fan said:

I'm personally aware, not just rumors, of other counties doing shady stuff, and like you said, every county is guilty, but Wise Co loves to be #1. Lol

Lee Co has some SB members being investigated for embezzlement. All of the leaders in SWVA are crooks. Look at the mess in Tazewell County, the nasty viral Buchanan County blow up at their SB meeting...etc.

[Wolf1207]

3 hours ago, Unchained said:

Lee Co has some SB members being investigated for embezzlement. All of the leaders in SWVA are crooks. Look at the mess in Tazewell County, the nasty viral Buchanan County blow up at their SB meeting...etc.

I have a suspicion that Dickenson County may be the champions at sweeping things under the rug and keeping their mouths shut. 

[swvavol]

17 hours ago, Unchained said:

Lee Co has some SB members being investigated for embezzlement. All of the leaders in SWVA are crooks. Look at the mess in Tazewell County, the nasty viral Buchanan County blow up at their SB meeting...etc.

That is not correct.  Lee County doesn't have school board members being investigated for embezzlement.  There was employee at Lee High that embezzled money.

[Fairlawncat]

Multiple Counties mentioned above. Guys, you don't truly believe this is confined to Appalachia/SWVA do you? It's prevalent across the country. Sadly, that's the world we live in today. 90 percent of institutions (or more) have at least some level of corruption.

[Wolf1207]

1 hour ago, Fairlawncat said:

Multiple Counties mentioned above. Guys, you don't truly believe this is confined to Appalachia/SWVA do you? It's prevalent across the country. Sadly, that's the world we live in today. 90 percent of institutions (or more) have at least some level of corruption.

Of course, and it all starts with the United States Congress and moves downward

[Unchained]

On 2/18/2026 at 10:29 AM, swvavol said:

That is not correct.  Lee County doesn't have school board members being investigated for embezzlement.  There was employee at Lee High that embezzled money.

The Lee County School Board has faced scrutiny due to embezzlement accusations against its members. The Virginia State Police are currently investigating the embezzlement of over $200,000 from the Lee County Public School district. The board chair, Robert Hines, stated that the board had no prior knowledge of the fraudulent checks, and the investigation is ongoing. The embezzlement allegations have raised concerns about the district's financial management and the potential impact on the community. 

 

WJHL

[1inStripes]

It was a bookkeeper at Lee High School is my understanding, not a member itself.  I believe the headline while is written in a manner where one could easily believe it is about an actual SB member, its really meant to be about a member of the school system itself.

[swvavol]

23 minutes ago, Unchained said:

The Lee County School Board has faced scrutiny due to embezzlement accusations against its members. The Virginia State Police are currently investigating the embezzlement of over $200,000 from the Lee County Public School district. The board chair, Robert Hines, stated that the board had no prior knowledge of the fraudulent checks, and the investigation is ongoing. The embezzlement allegations have raised concerns about the district's financial management and the potential impact on the community. 

 

WJHL

And if you read the article, it says the accusations were against Lee County Schools staff.  Nowhere does it say Board members are being investigated for embezzlement.

[Fairlawncat]

The man needs a speedboat and a new quad along with an underground bunker. Can you fault the man? If he hides 100K appropriately and does his 5 years, he can still end up with the new quad and speedboat when he's served his time.

 

[Unchained]

2 hours ago, swvavol said:

And if you read the article, it says the accusations were against Lee County Schools staff.  Nowhere does it say Board members are being investigated for embezzlement.

Ok so regardless something shady if accusations are true. Point being that our so-called leaders (school staff obviously as role models qualify as leaders). Folks like to point fingers at BSG like this is the only community with less than desirable folks in leadership positions. This is not only a regional issue, but a nationwide issue. My family in upstate New York is dealing with a corrupt school board-so much so 1 sister in-law is now homeschooling my nephews and niece.

[Gridiron60]

Can Union expect a head coach to be named next month’s SB meeting? I would think they’ve had plenty of time for applications & interviews.

[redtiger]

Applications for the position closed on the 9th. They better get a move on if they want to get it by the next scheduled meeting, but with the local outrage over various issues I'd be willing to bet they make the hire at a special meeting. It would be a good move for the new guy just to distance him from everything else

[Gridiron60]

12 minutes ago, redtiger said:

Applications for the position closed on the 9th. They better get a move on if they want to get it by the next scheduled meeting, but with the local outrage over various issues I'd be willing to bet they make the hire at a special meeting. It would be a good move for the new guy just to distance him from everything else

If applications closed on February 9th, they probably haven’t started interviews. I really don’t know the time frame between closing applications & finishing interviews. Someone said they heard there were a dozen applicants so that would take a few days. I agree, new HC should definitely distance himself from all the drama and mess. 

[Fairlawncat]

Would be a great gig for a Head Coach. Great tradition, great backing of the communities in Appy and BSG, solid place to live and raise kids. Whoever gets the position is fortunate and should be grateful.

[Wolf1207]

When jobs come open around here I think these schools should look outward. Some of the most successful coaches from here did not go to the schools they were successful at. I know it goes both ways but Phil Robbins, Ralph Cummins and Greg Mance are good examples.