“06880” founder and executive editor Dan Woog writes:
I told the 50 or so Staples High School students who gathered in Town Hall on Monday morning that they would get a far better education about the real world that day than if they were sitting in class.
I did not know that 14 hours later, that lesson would be how heartless the world can be.
And how little some adults care about them, compared to their own desire for power.
Staples students — boys and girls soccer players, and many others — came early for Monday’s hearing.
Staples boys soccer coach Russell Oost-Lievense’s appeal to the Board of Education, to overturn superintendent of schools Thomas Scarice’s decision to not renew his contract, had all the makings of a TV drama.
There was procedural jousting between attorneys over the admissability of evidence; witness testimony and cross-examination that was at turns riveting and rambling; and a raw, emotional explanation by Oost-Lievense about why — after all he’s been through — he still wanted to lead Staples soccer.
Discussing his work as a special education teacher, his own journey through Westport schools with a learning disability, and his father’s death during his junior year, he described his love for the soccer program, and his desire to give back.
The dozens of athletes in the front rows, there to support him, sat riveted. They’d been sitting for 8 hours already. They’d heard back-and-forth about a verbal argument at a preseason retreat they’d attended.
And they’d heard a discussion about an investigation into it, during which not one of them had been questioned.
They watched as administrators sat smugly on their side of the stage, and Board members sat stone-faced, even during the most powerful testimony.
Staples principal Stafford Thomas, athletic director VJ Sarullo, and superintendent of schools Thomas Scarice.
“I think their minds are made up already,” one player said.
“No, they’re supposed to listen to everything, and be impartial,” a teammate countered.
As the night wore on, and the Board of Education retreated upstairs into executive session, the teenagers remained. They ate pizza. They chatted with Oost-Lievense and freshman coach Chris O’Dell.
They waited for word — after testimony, they and many others in the room believed, that showed Scarice’s decision to be “arbitrary and capricious” — that the coach who loved them, and who they loved back, would return to the program they and he adored.
At 11:15 the verdict came, with stunning finality. Five BOE members voted to uphold Scarice’s non-renewal recommendation. Only Robert Harrington voted against it.
At 11 p.m., dozens of Staples students waited for the Board of Education decision. Many left during the day for a class or two, or sports practice, then returned. All watched the proceedings closely. (Photos/Dan Woog)
The Staples players got a lesson in how the world works, for sure.
The world is not fair. It’s not always what they want. It can be arbitrary and capricious.
And so they — and Oost-Lievense’s many supporters, and other Westporters involved with all sports — wonder what’s next.
Why, for example, would any man or woman want to coach in a school district that does not support its coaches — that, in fact, casts them aside with little regard for their longtime contributions, personal reputations and heartfelt emotions?
Why would any coach not fear that an accusation of bad judgment could lead to non-renewal, without even a suggestion of working together to find a solution?
But why, on the other hand, would some coaches fear any discipline at all, knowing that in some programs, serious lapses of judgment lead to no sanctions whatsoever?
Why would any educator want to work in a district that seems so callous? Oost-Lievense testified that in Darien, where he is a special education teacher, supervisors cared deeply about how he was feeling, throughout his ordeal.
No one in Westport ever asked.
And why, in a district that so often pats itself on the back for its achievements in the classroom and beyond, is there such disregard for the very reason any school exists: the young people in it?
On Monday morning, I thought the many teenagers in the Town Hall auditorium would get a lesson in justice, fairness and compassion.
On Monday night, they got that lesson. They learned that some people care more about power than about those very human bedrock values.
Dan, power yes but wouldn’t you also say, cowardice. Defined – characteristic wherein excessive fear prevents an individual from taking a risk or facing danger.
I see Russell, my co worker from Darien High School, as brave. To keep pursuing what is right, just, and fair. I am so proud of him, and I hope that, even though he is heartbroken about this outcome for the moment, that he felt and feels the love of the Soccer community and beyond. I hope that love will heal all the cracks that this ordeal has caused and is causing.
Dan: have you offered each of the Board members—and I’m including Robert Harrington here—the opportunity to do an individual opinion piece on “06880” which would provide a detailed explanation for why the individual Board members voted the way he or she did? If not, I throw that out for your consideration. Thanks.
What a travesty..The comment from Doug Pardon on yesterdays post was really telling. For those of you interested it’s toward the bottom, one of the last. I wish I was still working so I could show the BOE how to conduct a real investigation. Shameful….
Maya Angelou said: “When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time.”
When someone brags about taking a chainsaw to a native nature preserve and an award winning community garden, believe that his braggadocio is real.
But I have another story to tell today.
In 2012, during post season playoffs, the coach of Darien schools girls high school lacrosse team was suspended for getting emotional with a player. She missed the rest of the playoffs, but returned the following year.
Her name is Lisa Lindley. She is roundly cited as one of the winningest coaches, and beloved by current and former Blue Wavers since 1994. She was inducted into the US Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 2020 and named United States Coach of the Year in 2023, to name just a few of her accolades.
The player was goalie Caylee Waters. Mentored by Lindley, Waters went on to have an outstanding college career as a North Carolina Tarheel goalie, played professional Lacrosse, and is now a coach at UVA.
Here’s a photo of the coach/player interaction that led to the temporary suspension (which was widely contested):
https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/sports/article/darien-girls-lacrosse-coach-lisa-lindley-3604710.php
Lisa is a friend and an outstanding human being. I am so glad she was given an opportunity to overcome this challenge. She remains head coach of the Blue Wave girls lacrosse.
All decisions are political in nature, the outcome is dictated by who the most powerful decision maker is. The rest is how it gets done.
Westport has now made two bad decisions, destroying the community garden, and firing a devoted soccer coach! Get ready for the third, Hamlet destroying Suagatuck, as well as the two Norwalk Islands the developer bought. All very sad.
Well said Jalna, and WHEN will the RTM right their mistake about how we the citizens petition our government?
Thanks for this Dan and for your excellent coverage of the issue. My only “critique” (not criticism) is that you might consider using your website to promote a response from all of us who live in Westport to this mistake. Perhaps a petition could be organized (with the team players going door to door and gathering signatures to support a more thorough review of this decision). There’s no reason to lay down and accept something just because “that’s the way the world is”. As citizens of Westport we should not allow this to happen and moreover we should give the Board the opportunity to reconsider their actions and take corrective action. Let’s not give up on this. Thank you again.
As a young(er) parent, a baseball coach, local bsns owner…. I want to emphatically state that I believe with every fiber of my body that the LESSON will be revealed ONLY after this situation has been resolved. WE the residents and especially the students are faced with a situation that hits extremely close to home, often a direct hit, and we are NOT OK with the outcome. If you also feel like this is a unique opportunity to teach our students via leading by example here. If you think the LESSON here will be taught upon answering the question: WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT? Then please reach out to me. We have a plan.
robertmitchell914@gmail.com
Hit us an email!
Thank you, Dan, for covering this story. I have been following this story since its beginning with a growing sense of dismay. Coaching is a calling — like teaching — not everyone can coach, nor can everyone teach. You don’t come to it as a “job” – you are called to share your love and knowledge of a sport with others. You are never compensated enough for the amount of time and energy that you put into coaching — you do it for love of the sport and the team. My late husband, Dan, came to coaching late in life and I witnessed a transformation in him that was amazing because he loved it so very much. Because he loved the sport diving, he was thrilled to share that love with many young women and men. My point in all this, you don’t throw away an exceptional coach. There are not that many of them available. You take them aside, you “coach” them and then send them back to the team. It is a shame that this coach was cast aside. The loss of a coach is a big deal to kids. When my husband died there were many devastated kids left in his wake. There are devastated kids left here as well — definitely a needless shame, in my book.
I too have been following this story. Sad to see that lack of fairness has entered our town. Not allowing the full story to be told seems to show there is a lack of empathy by the school and the Board members. Something fishy here.
Bravo, Dan. Succinctly put. Alas, as an aged historian I can only confirm that yes, it is always about politics (we are ALL doing politics even when we swear we aren’t), the life of the polis or the people. Cf Pericles to Athens.
Time to step up, People of Athens. Wield your power through legal means and power-coupon influence (i.e. money). Afflict the comfortable who believe themselves safely ensconced on taxpayer funded plush swivel chairs.
O and yeah. Tommy S., start looking for another job. THIS Board will give you wonderful recommendations. The next one? Who knows.
Applies to you Principal Thomas. I have not seen such a “Oh God Why am I here posture & look” since General Milley hung his head at the cabinet meeting where Speaker Nancy Pelosi stood up and, as a Good Mother should, directly chastised Trump to his face for his personal and policy awfulness.
Unlike Trump, you guys aren’t going down a Comeback Trail. Time to get out of Dodge.
Dan – thanks so much for covering this story. I was not at the hearing but several of my friends were there all day and were shocked (and obviously saddened) at the outcome. I challenge those 5 Board of Ed members to please explain how they came to this decision. Every single one of them owes it to all of the members of this community who are completely appalled at their decision. Makes ZERO sense.
As a friend of the Oosts for about almost 30 years, knowing what an outstanding man Russ has become as a teacher, coach, son, brother, and uncle.
I could not believe the undemocratic way this was handled. Our board of ed and school administrators should be ashamed at what they did, and there fear of making a mistake.
I want to thank you for all you have done and continue to do. I hope it is okay to share this petition for Russ: https://chng.it/P6ps9zb8
Having spent 8 hours at the meeting and leaving before the end- I had the impression that except for Mr Harrington, everyone of the decision makers and the allowed testimonies were looking after someone’s back but not looking at what was so clearly sitting in front of them- supportive students and parents, a Westport community, and the coaches and their backgrounds of years of service.
Disappointed with the result is an understatement.
There is a student-organized walkout at Staples High School tomorrow (Friday, May 16th) @ 9am to support the coaches whose contracts have not been renewed. 4 things you can do to support the coaches and protest against the administration and board of education:
1. Attend the walk-out
2. Sign the petition: https://chng.it/9yML5hwm
3. Donate to the GoFundMe: tinyurl.com/35h4vnuc
4. Spread the word within and outside our community
An Instagram account has been made with more information: https://www.instagram.com/wreckersforruss?
Walk outs, sit in’s, etc. etc. BLAH! The lesson learned by the Wreckers the only night is POWER TO MONEY!! And as Warren Buffet recently said: “We are a in class warfare and we RICH are winning.” Hint: the coach ain’t got the money.