Today’s Board of Education hearing involving a Staples High School boys soccer coach’s contract took less time than the previous 5-1 vote, in May: 8 hours, not 14.
But the result was the same. This time by 4-2, the Board affirmed superintendent of schools Thomas Scarice’s decision to not rehire longtime freshman coach Chris O’Dell.
Members Lee Goldstein, Dorie Hordon, Neil Phillips and Abby Tolan voted to support Scarice’s decision. Robert Harrington and Jill Dillon voted against it. Kevin Christie recused himself, and was not at the day-long session in Town Hall.
Christie told “06880” that he and his family have personal connections to the Westport and Staples soccer programs.
Noting that the Board of Education “effectively serves as judge and jury,” he said, “in a traditional courtroom setting, my connections to the soccer programs would not allow me to serve as a juror.
“Due process does not allow parties to select their own jurors. I will not capitulate to external pressure impacting due process, my integrity, my family, and my decisions as a BOE member. Recusal was, and is, the right decision.”
Board of Education mediator Fred Dorsey, flanked by (from left) Dorie Hordon, chair Lee Goldstein, Neil Phillips, Jill Dillon, Abby Tolan and Robert Harrington.
O’Dell represented himself, against 2 charges: that he did not report a verbal argument between another assistant coach at a pre-season retreat over Labor Day weekend 2024, and that he was insubordinate by attending the post-season banquet the following December.
The freshman coach attempted to make a number of arguments, to prove that Scarice’s decision was “arbitrary and capricious.”
As happened in May — when the BOE heard an appeal by former head coach Russell Oost-Lievense, regarding the same 2 incidents — the Board’s mediator, Fred Dorsey, sustained nearly every objection from Thomas Mooney, the attorney for Scarice, Staples principal Stafford Thomas, and director of athletics VJ Sarullo.
From time to time Dorsey showed O’Dell — who owns a residential design-build firm, and is not a lawyer — a bit of leeway, helping him frame questions and allowing him to ask procedural questions.
Chris O’Dell (center), with his daughter Addison, and former Staples boys soccer head coach Russell Oost-Lievense.
Nearly 30 attendees — soccer parents and others interested in the board’s handling of coaches — moved into the lobby twice, while the BOE deliberated in executive session for 45 minutes each time.
O’Dell objected to those sessions, urging the board not to rehash testimony that had already been given in May.
“Arbitrary and capricious is the only thing that matters,” he said. He also defended himself against what he called attacks on his character.
One point of contention was a voicemail from Sarullo to O’Dell, regarding his attendance at the banquet. Sarullo told the coach to call him on the office line he was calling from, or text him.
O’Dell said that Sarullo never responded to his own voicemail in reply. Sarullo replied that O’Dell’s failure to text him showed negligence on his part.
From left: Board of Education attorney Tom Mooney, superintendent of schools Thomas Scarice, Staples principal Stafford Thomas, Staples athletic director VJ Sarullo. (All photos/Dan Woog)
Scarice testified that O’Dell’s “level of hostility” — along with the recommendation of Sarullo and Thomas — played a role in his non-renewal decision.
The superintendent knew his decision might be divisive. He acknowledged that employment issues are never easy. But he reiterated his belief that he made the right decision in this case.
O’Dell questioned Scarice about his offer in May to bring the coach back, with conditions. The superintendent countered that he had been urged to talk with the coach by community and school members, but that no mediation was offered.
There was discussion too about a phone conversation in which Scarice taped O’Dell, without his knowledge — something Scarice said he had never done with another employee. O’Dell claimed this was evidence of arbitrary and capricious behavior, but Mooney’s objection was sustained.
O’Dell asked Scarice why he had not responded during a BOE meeting in January, when a student alleged that the incident at the retreat included physical abuse. O’Dell said that Scarice already knew that charge was false.
Board policy is to not reply to public comment, Scarice said. However, O’Dell responded, chair Lee Goldstein thanked the student for his testimony, adding “good job.”
O’Dell brought up other situations that he said showed Scarice, Thomas and Sarullo acting arbitrarily and capriciously.
They included a meeting in another town between Sarullo and boys tennis coach Kris Hrisovulos, after his own non-renewal was dismissed on procedural grounds. Sarullo denied O’Dell’s charge that at that meeting, the athletic director apologized to Hrisovulos for the way that situation was handled.
Chris O’Dell
O’Dell also brought up situations — one involving a serious head injury to an opposing player, and another in which a Staples player was bullied by an opponent — in an attempt to show that his actions there were consistent with his handling of the incident at the retreat. Sarullo denied they were similar.
In the end, 7 hours of sometimes heated testimony — and an hour of deliberation by the Board of Education — came down to a final vote.
Like Oost-Lievense in May, the majority affirmed the non-renewal decision.
O’Dell was not there to hear the verdict. He had a practice at Fairfield Warde High School.
This past summer, he and Oost-Lievense were hired to coach soccer in the neighboring town.
Early in the proceedings, Scarice had been asked if was concerned about the safety of players at Warde, under O’Dell and Oost-Lievense.
“I’m not the superintendent of Fairfield,” he replied.
The Board seems inadequate. Giving Scarice that raise was a huge mistake! He would have stayed with no raise. Westport spends wildly and the taxes are high.
The fix was in!
I’ve said this before in comments on this matter but will open by saying again: I have the utmost respect and sympathy for Chris O’Dell and Coach Russ, who have given so much to the Staples boys program and broader Westport community. We were incredibly lucky to have their involvement in the boys soccer program – our loss is Fairfield Warde’s gain. They are excellent coaches who have had a long-lasting, positive developmental impact on countless student athletes and will continue to for years to come, in Fairfield.
This situation and the matter, resolved procedurally in favor for Coach Kris of the Staples tennis program, have been eye opening experiences.
In the boys soccer situation, the members of the BoE were charged with weighing the superintendent’s decision against a ridiculously high standard: arbitrary and capricious. Given the facts and the definition of A&C (provided by the BoE attorney), I understand why four board members who “serve as a juror” would affirm the superintendent’s decision; I also understand why two members did not, perhaps due to the thinness of the investigation ahead of the superintendent’s decision not to renew, inconsistencies with handling of other coaching incidents in other sports, or these coaches’ track records.
The decision to affirm was not clear to the Board, but what is clear is that something needs to be fixed. Department of Education employees (teachers, coaches, administrators) deserve better: a standard that is appropriate, reasonable and clear; they deserve a review of other deficiencies in the document(s) that govern: (i) their employment and (ii) BoE’s involvement in their employment matters.
The path to appeal is now well worn thanks to the determination and appropriate pursuit of their cases by Coach Russ, Coach O’Dell and Coach Kris.
Who on the Board of Education is going to lead on this to avoid unfair, resource-draining circumstances going forward?
Jim – I agree with so much of what you write. We on the Board of Education need to change how we approach this going forward. I fear some of my fellow board members will try and outsource these future decisions to 3rd party bodies. This would be the wrong approach. We have to fix what we are doing.
In over fifty years living in Westport I cannot recall a single coach being dismissed by the AD or Superintendent. At least- Not one that made the news.
Yikes- Now in two separate incidents, involving two different sports, under a brand new AD, three coaches are dismissed over the objections of the team players and parents.
No idea what happened with the tennis coach!
For the soccer coaches there are dubious or disputable charges of non reporting of a reportedly non reportable incident to the AD starting this brouhaha. Then dubious or disputable charges of insubordination are added for the soccer coaches going to an end of year team celebration sponsored by and at the invitation of the parents running the festivities.
Forgot to add- When the CT state investigation body is called in for the soccer incident the investigation says there is no incident to investigate and apologizes for being called in to investigate.
The tennis coach gets reinstated for procedural reasons- I wonder what that means. But the two soccer coaches are not renewed for any reason.
Board meetings run for 14 hours and 8 hours per soccer coach! Board procedure prevents the soccer coaches from presenting testimony and evidence that might clear their reputations. What could the Board be talking about for that many hours when testimony is not admitted ?
Adding insult to injury for the student athletes and their parents- both soccer coaches are immediately hired to coach soccer in the immediately neighboring FCIAC competing town of Fairfield- the Fairfield Board obviously doesn’t care about non reporting of non incidents or insubordination for going to a celebration.
Just my opinion- But-It sounds like the AD was on a power trip or was grossly uninformed, but was subsequently backed by the superintendent, who was subsequently backed by the Board.
Has the makings of another great movie about where Westport meets the real world or the beginning of a terrible Westport Board of ED meets the legal system in a court case where all the facts will hopefully be on display in a court of law.
I think someone shot themselves and the Town of Westport in the soccer foot.
The current Board of Education is an embarrassment.
In November, I’m voting for two people who are genuinely kind, encyclopedically smart, and endlessly hard-working. Most important of all, they know the difference between right and wrong.
Let’s start rebuilding the BOE by voting for Jodi Harris and Stephen Shackelford.
After reading this, I have a question for Kevin Christie tied into his decision to recuse himself. Based on the standards he applied to himself because of his personal connections, does he think that any other Board members should have recused themselves because of any personal connections? Thanks.
Such a sham, I mean shame. The BoE should be ashamed.
Not a surprise. Kevin Christie is spineless. We need BoE members who care about our children, not ones who prop up this bully superintendent and his overwhelmed high school AD. I’m voting for any non-incumbent this Fall. This town desperately needs changes in leadership throughout.
What a sham. I mean shame. Clearly a CYA situation. It takes guts and dignity to admit you’ve made a mistake. Too bad none were present.
The only good thing to come out of yesterday’s sham hearing was seeing Coach O’Dell leave to go his new coaching job at Fairfield Warde after the conclusion of his testimony.
I have so much more to say on this matter.
The actions of the school administration towards these coaches were grossly unfair.
I am so disappointed in the action’s of my fellow board members (ex Jill Dillon).
We need change on our Board of Education
I had a same question for Christie re his recusal. If memory serves, his first recusal had to do with his kid playing on a team in a premier program that Russ was a coach of (not the same team as Christie’s kid). Now he says he has a personal connection with Staples Soccer!?! Does that mean the BoE must recuse themselves whenever voting on a school matter. I would hope they all have a personal connection with the School district. That’s why most run for the position. Dan, did Goldstein and Hordon mention why they didn’t recuse themselves for what appears to be a much more personal connection to this matter? Time for change!