Dever
Parents asked to aid search
The Arlington public school administration plans to hire a new, full-time director of athletics by early June after the employment of Edward “Ted” Dever ended in March.
Five days after this report was published, Boston.com quoted Dever’s attorney, who said he plans to fight the dismissal.
Signaling the change, the School Committee approved a new job description for an athletics director Thursday, April 11, in a 6-0 vote. Kirsi Allison-Ampe was ill and was not present.
Committee members made public no comment about Dever, who was placed on paid leave last August, because of an unspecified investigation.
He had been athletics director since October 2007.
In the light of a new job description, YourArlington asked Robert Spiegel, director of human resources for the Arlington public schools, on April 12 about Dever’s employment status.
Spiegel, who had been out of the office, responded Tuesday, April 16:
“We can simply confirm that he is no longer on the payroll effective March 22, 2013.
“Otherwise, it’s a personnel matter and we cannot comment.”
Asked about the time frame for hiring a replacement, he wrote: “We will post the position of Athletic Director soon and hope to select one by early June.”
History of the case
Dever was placed on leave last Aug. 27 after town police identified him as the target of an unspecified investigation. Rob DiLoreto, a house dean and former athletics director, was named to fill in, coaches were told Thursday, Aug. 30.
A statement from Superintendent Kathleen Bodie, released Aug. 29, referred to probes of Dever by the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office and Arlington police “involving allegations of certain criminal conduct.” The statement did not further describe the conduct.
In December, The Boston Globe reported that Dever, a Winchester resident, was fighting his dismissal in the face of a criminal probe.
Authorities have released no specifics. Arlington Police Chief Fred Ryan declined to comment to a Globe reporter.
The Globe quoted Rick Grundy, Dever’s attorney, who said Arlington schools’ Superintendent Kathleen Bodie had notified Dever of her intention to dismiss him though no charges have been filed.
Grundy said he and Dever met with Bodie and an attorney representing the school district Dec. 4 for a hearing about Dever’s employment and were told of several performance-related reasons behind Bodie’s intention to fire Dever.
Later that month, one possible issue emerged.
Arlington High School was required to forfeit a number of wins by some of its sports teams during the 2011-2012 school year. In all, 12 teams included ineligible players, and eight of the teams have had to forfeit winning games.
The forfeitures result from the recently discovered fact that several student athletes who competed for Arlington interscholastic teams last school year were academically ineligible to compete under Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association rules.
A news release did not mention Dever, but it said an investigation by DiLoreto led to discovery of ineligible players.
The next day, a Globe story quoted an MIAA official calling the forfeitures “unprecedented.”
Dever’s name remained out of the news until it was mentioned in a story about Jimmy Roche, baseball star at Arlington High School who had been hired to assist DiLoreto until Roche was called up to Mets farm team
The new job description for the director of athletics changes what had been three-fourths position to full time.
One provision calls for “familiarity with the MIAA Rules and Regulations Governing Athletics.”
The salary range is $78,000 to $88,000.
JOB DESCRIPTION
4/11/2013
Position: Athletic director
JOB GOAL: To plan and coordinate the total program of interscholastic athletics.
QUALIFICATIONS:
1.Demonstrated evidence of strong leadership experience in the coaching and organization of interscholastic athletics.
2. Demonstrated effectiveness in management in a variety of roles in interscholastic athletics.
3. Evidence of successful coaching.
4. Skill in planning, scheduling, organizing, evaluating and budgeting directly related to interscholastic athletic programs.
5. Clear understanding of the role of competitive athletics and recreational athletics in public schools as part of a total developmental education program for both young men and young women.
6. Strong public relations skills in interpreting policies and programs to the school community and community at large.
7. Familiarity with the MIAA Rules and Regulations Governing Athletics.
8. Familiarity with law and implementation of Title IX.
9. DESE Certification/Licensure required; DESE Administrator, Licensure Preferred
10. NIAA National Interscholastic Athletic Administrator Association) Certified Athletic Administrator (CAA) or working toward certification.
11 Other qualifications acceptable to the Superintendent.
PERFORMANCE RESPONSIBILITIES:
1 Organizes and administers the overall extracurricular athletic program for Arlington High School and interscholastic, for the district.
2. Hires, assigns, supervises and evaluates athletic coaches and staff members.
3. Fosters good school-community relations by keeping the community aware of and responsive to the athletic program.
4. Organizes and schedules all interscholastic athletic events.
5. Hires officials, team physicians, trainer, and game staff/ security and policemen as required, and assumes general responsibility for the proper supervision of home games.
6. Arranges transportation for travel to away games,
7. Develops and implements appropriate rules and regulations governing the conduct of athletic activities.
8. Verifies each athlete’s eligibility according to established physical, academic and other requirements for participation in each sport according to MIAA and School District rules.
9. Ensures compliance with Title IX so that there are equal athletic opportunities for boys and girls.
10. In conjunction with the School District’s Chief Financial Officer and Business Office staff, prepares and administers the athletic program budget.
11. Regularly communicates with Athletic Directors from opposing teams regarding upcoming events.
12. Supervises all ticket sales and fund-raising events of the athletic program, and assumes responsibility for proper handling of funds.
13. Approves use of school athletic facilities for non-school use.
14. Provides for the physical examination of all athletes prior to the beginning of each season. Works with the school nurse to insure proper documentation of medical forms for all athletes.
15. Responsible, in conjunction with the School Business Office, for collection of athletic participation fees.
16. Purchases, in conjunction with the School Business Office and according to School District policy, all equipment and uniforms.
17. Secures permits for all practices and games, both indoors and outdoors.
18. Oversees the upkeep of Peirce Field.
19. Efficiently responds to students and parent issues.
20. Maintains active involvement in league, district and state athletic directors’ associations and meetings.
21. Other responsibilities as assigned by the Superintendent and/or High School Principal.
TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT: 1.0 FTE
REPORTS TO: Principal, Arlington High School
SUPERVISES: The Director provides supervision of all coaches of interscholastic athletics and related support personnel.
SALARY: $78,000 to $88,000
AAA Bargaining-unit position. Benefits are in accordance with those offered to AAA bargaining-unit members.
Arlington values diversity. We strongly encourage candidates of varied backgrounds, including people of color, persons with disabilities and other to apply.
Volunteers sought for search by May 3
In an email Friday, April 26, interim Principal Mary Villano asked parents for support in the search for a new director of athletics. She was relaying a message from Dean of Students Veronica Tivnan.
“We are looking for two parent volunteers, whose children are currently involved in the athletic program at AHS, to serve on a hiring committee. We would like a parent of a female athlete and one of a male athlete.
“Hiring committees have the responsibility of drafting interview questions, being present for all candidate interviews, and recommending finalists to Principal Villano. We have several applicants for this position already and hope to have the process concluded by the beginning of June.
“Please consider serving on this committee to support our student athletes. We are proud of all our student athletes and want to continue the tradition of a strong athletic program at Arlington High School.”
Those interested in volunteering should email contact information to Tivnan at vtivnan at arlington.k12.ma.us by Friday, May 3.
This story was published Wednesday, April 17, 2013, and updated April 26.
