Claiming she feels "violated," Monessen School District Superintendent Linda Marcolini is upset with the WPIAL Board of Control's handling of a hearing with Brentwood School District officials.
"I feel we were set up and violated," Marcolini said of the Tuesday hearing.
On Wednesday, the WPIAL board announced "no specific findings" that any students, players or fans from Brentwood High School used racial slurs or engaged in racially insensitive behavior at a boys' basketball game against Monessen High School.
The Section 3-AA game on Feb. 3 gained national attention after the predominantly black and biracial Monessen team claimed it was subjected to shouts of "monkeys" and "cotton pickers." Monessen won the matchup, 59-45.
The WPIAL imposed no punishment on either school, saying it found that Brentwood officials "took swift, decisive and appropriate action in addressing the limited disturbances that took place prior to, during or after the game" by ejecting and suspending two students in banana costumes who ran onto Brentwood's court, violating school and league rules.
The league directed Brentwood and Monessen school officials to work together to formulate a plan to promote sportsmanship and prevent the use of racial slurs or intimidation, saying that "all individuals must be treated with dignity and respect at all WPIAL contests."
The districts have until June 1 to submit a plan for the board's review and approval.
Marcolini said she accepts the board's decision to come up with an action plan, but will file an appeal with the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association, the state governing body for high school athletics, over the way the hearing was conducted.
"I don't feel we got a fair hearing at all," Marcolini said.
She said WPIAL Executive Director Tim O'Malley contacted Monessen High School Principal Brian Sutherland on Friday to inform him Brentwood would be bringing three "note-takers" to the hearing.
Marcolini said she asked district solicitor John Toohey, George Simmons, of the Mon Valley branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, and Robert Flipping, of the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, to attend as Monessen's note-takers. She said Flipping could not attend because of illness.
Marcolini claimed Brentwood solicitor John Vogel "ran the entire hearing."
Marcolini said she and Sutherland were taken aback when they entered the hearing room to see Brentwood officials had brought videos, screens, posters and diagrams of the gymnasium.
She said Brentwood officials performed background checks on witnesses Monessen brought to testify about the events of the game. Testifying on Monessen's behalf were residents Vincent Scirotto Sr., whose son, Vinnie, is a senior on Monessen's team, and Monessen-based attorney Megan Kerns. Boys' basketball coach Joe Salvino attended but was not asked to testify.
"I made a mistake being an 'honest Joe' and provided them on Friday with the names of our witnesses, never thinking that would happen," she said.
Marcolini said she asked for an open hearing, but Brentwood requested it be closed, citing confidentiality and privacy issues.
"They didn't do much of anything," Marcolini said of the WPIAL. "They want both schools to come together to write an action plan. I thank the WPIAL for that, because I do want to work and come to a resolve."
Brentwood officials responded to the WPIAL decision by stating on the district website that the hearing "fairly much vindicates the district's position that no racist activity took place."
"The findings state that any media accounts that banana- costumed students used racial slurs or engaged in racial intimidation were grossly unfair and inaccurate," the website stated. "In particular, Brentwood administrators and school police personnel acted appropriately and decisively in addressing any incidents at the game."
The district indicated its directors, administrators and students "look forward to implementing the lessons learned from this matter."
A letter from O'Malley to Monessen and Brentwood officials regarding the WPIAL decision, states both districts must make sure there is adequate supervision when the teams face off in athletic events.
The high school principals must submit a joint letter detailing the supervision that will be present and at least one administrator from each district must attend.
Tribune-Review reporter Kevin Gorman contributed to this report.
