Details emerge in DeVoursney resignation
DeVoursney, who in 2013 led Griffin to its first state championship in 35 seasons, stepped down ahead of Thursday’s specially called Griffin-Spalding Schools board meeting to consider his status as coach.
The probe, requested by the school board and conducted by an independent investigator, looked into allegations that Jessica DeVoursney, a Griffin teacher and the coach’s wife, did school work for football players to keep them eligible while serving in the role of academic adviser to athletes.
Jessica DeVoursney also submitted a letter of resignation this week. In the investigative report, she denied wrongdoing.
The investigator’s report made no conclusions about misconduct. It outlined several allegations and complaints from interviews of more than 20 current or former school employees, mostly Griffin High School faculty members.
The events that prompted the investigation began in September, 2013, when Griffin principal Keith Simmons questioned the transfer of a student-athlete from his school to county rival Spalding High. The schools are located five miles apart.
Simmons wrote a letter to the Georgia High School Association that asserted that the transfer student from Griffin was not living legally in the Spalding district, according to the investigator’s report. Simmons speculated in the letter that Spalding football coach Nick Davis illegally recruited the student-athlete.
In October, Spalding principal Derrell Jeffcoat asked for an investigation of his own by the school board after a transfer student from Griffin was found to be academically ineligible for sports. In a letter to the board of education on Oct. 28, Jeffcoat questioned the integrity of a ‘’course recovery’’ program at Griffin that the student completed in 2011.
‘’Spalding High School believes the awarding of an 18 week semester credit in one day period surpasses any complaints hence filed between the two schools,’’ Jeffcoat wrote.
On Nov. 7, the school board hired an investigator, Richard Hyde. His report quoted several Griffin faculty members as expressing suspicion of cheating or misuse in Griffin’s course recovery program, which gives students the opportunity to retake courses in which they previously have failed to receive credits toward graduation.
The investigator also interviewed the student, who accused Jessica DeVournsey and an assistant football coach of giving him answers to tests. Jessica DeVoursney denied those allegations in the report and indicated the student’s motives were spiteful – ‘’because he hates my husband.’’
Griffin’s principal, Simmons, defended Jessica DeVoursney during questioning and said he was unaware that other teachers called her or the program into question. “I can’t fathom her doing it. I don’t see him (Steve DeVoursney) putting her in that position,’’ he told the investigator.
Simmons also defended Steve DeVoursney on allegations of recruiting and improper help to student-athletes. ‘’He can act selfishly or immaturely, yes, but not risk his livelihood. He certainly complains about his salary. It wouldn’t make sense to jeopardize it.’’
The school board meets at 3 p.m. on Thursday to consider Steve DeVoursney’s resignation.
‘’It is always hurtful and upsetting to hear allegations about our school system employees,’’ Jones, the superintendent, said. “However, we all have an ethical and moral obligation to our students and community to investigate complaints to ensure that Griffin-Spalding students receive the best education possible.’’
