Date: Fri 06-Oct-1995

Publication: Bee

Author: TOMW

Quick Words:

Zito-Winsett-beer-suspension

Full Text:

NHS Coaches Suspended Drinking Beer On School Property

B Y T OM W YATT

Two physical education teachers at Newtown High School have been disciplined

by the Board of Education for consuming alcohol on school grounds.

Bob Zito and Dan Winsett were fined in excess of $3,000 and suspended for two

weeks in the wake of an investigation by Newtown Superintendent of Schools, Dr

John Reed.

In 1990 Newtown High School hired Mr Zito to be its new head football coach,

and in one year he turned the program from a doormat into a state champion.

Over the course of his first few years at NHS, Mr Zito and his coaching staff,

none of whom worked at the school, began using Saturday game day afternoons to

go over game films in the football office.

Sometimes they ordered out for pizza, sometimes sandwiches, and generally they

brought a cooler.

Based on information obtained through an anonymous informant, the school board

investigated allegations, early last month, that NHS physical education

teacher Dan Winsett, Mr Zito, and members of his coaching staff may have

consumed beer on school grounds during their meetings.

The investigation showed that while no partying or heavy drinking took place,

no students were present on school grounds, and the doors of the coach's

office were closed and locked at all times, beer was consumed on school

property in violation of Board of Education policy.

"While I have enormous respect for what Bob Zito has done for the high

school's athletic program, and also for what Dan Winsett has done here, this

is one of those lapses in judgment that [NHS principal] Bill Manfredonia and I

felt had to be met with decisive action," said Dr Reed. "We received overt

cooperation from the people involved. I can understand how it happened, but it

was something that just shouldn't have occurred."

As a result of the findings, Mr Zito and Mr Winsett, were fined, suspended,

and put on probation. Three other participants received written reprimands.

"It seemed innocent enough at the time," Mr Zito said. "My wife and my kids

were usually there, and there were never any students in the building. I

realize that I was wrong in my actions, and have been penalized severely.

Hopefully we can just put this behind us now and move on."

The two physical education teachers had the fines deducted from their

salaries, but chose to work through the two-week suspensions without pay.

"We both wanted to come to work because we like our jobs, we like our

students, and we didn't want to break up the continuity of our classrooms

right at the beginning of the school year," said Mr Winsett.

"Everybody makes mistakes," Dr Reed concluded, "and I trust that the community

will put this incident in the proper perspective. They are fine individuals

and I look forward to their continued contributions to the school system

here."