A high school football coach in the state of Wisconsin remains on administrative leave amid an ongoing investigation of more than three weeks. Niko Sila chose not to resign from his role at Green Bay East.
He is going to fight against his termination.
The Red Devils already completed their high school football season so this continued conversation surrounding Sila’s employment could continue indefinitely. It could then get litigious, if it hasn’t already.
Why did Green Bay East suspend its high school football coach?
Wisconsin state law prohibits the school district from sharing its basis of investigation at this time. Nor is it allowed to share the potentially punishable allegations against the football coach, who also serves as the manager of student engagement, attendance and advocacy.
However, one of Sila’s representatives sat in on meetings with the Green Bay School District. Stephanie Ortiz says there were eight initial allegations with two added later. They include:
- Divisive or unprofessional comments about staff or administration
- Divisive or unprofessional comments toward staff
- Intimidation of colleagues
- Intimidation or manipulation of students and lack of professional boundaries
- Use of profanity with students
- Inappropriate physical consequences during football practices
- Lack of training and supervision of monitors and providing incorrect attendance processes and procedures to monitors
- Giving rides to students in his personal vehicle
- Violation of the district’s no-contact order by communicating with students while on administrative leave
- Inappropriately updating and altering student attendance
The two most prominent allegations at the center of this investigation include the improper management of attendance and giving rides to students in his personal vehicle after multiple warnings not to do so.
Although Ortiz said on Nov. 4 that Sila had not received warnings, Sila’s wife said otherwise. She said he was told not to give rides to students but that there was not a policy on which to base the demand.
Will Niko Sila be fired?
The answer to this question depends entirely on what plays out in the coming weeks. But with that being said, there seems to be momentum toward an eventual ouster.
Niko Sila received an offer from the Green Bay School District to resign with severance pay. He said no.
“The Green Bay Area Public School District can confirm that Mr. Niko Sila communicated in writing to the District that he was rejecting the resignation offer that was presented. The District has no further information to share at this time.”
As a result, the district will recommend to the school board that he be fired. A meeting has not yet been scheduled for a vote. The school board’s agenda for a meeting on Monday, Nov. 10 does not include any mention of Sila or “termination.” We’ll see.
The investigation continues.
In the meantime, Sila remains on administrative leave, which has been the case since Oct. 16. Students protested his suspension just a few days after it was announced but the school allegedly threatened students who planned to participate in the walkout so the turnout was not as large as expected.
Supporters of Sila also spoke out against his termination on Nov. 4.
Ortiz and Sila’s wife point to a lack of defined role and training as the basis for these allegations, which they claim are “hearsay” or taken out of context. They said the district administrators do not understand the cultural background behind his connection to students.
“We cannot let the district keep punishing people who make it better,” said Stephanie Ortiz. “Do we keep building bridges, or do we allow them to be destroyed completely?
“Students sought Niko out voluntarily, not out of fear, but because they felt seen. Niko filled the gap the system created, showing up where district leadership failed.”
Ortiz then drew a parallel between Sila’s use of profanity and his connection to students.
“What some call unprofessional, students experience as authenticity and respect.”
She also questioned the allegation of inappropriate physical consequences, asking for documentation of hard and/or injury that does not exist. Students specifically described Sila’s practices as motivating.
Any incorrect input of attendance was due to a lack of training, Ortiz said. He has done the exact same thing the exact same way for three years.
“Never at any point was he told that he was doing it inaccurately, or [showing] favoritism, or anything like that,” she said.
The fight continues!
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Wisconsin High School Football Coach Fights Mysterious Suspension As New Allegations Emerge
Pinoy Human Rights
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