An investigative report asserts Madison West High School Principal Beth Thompson and former West athletic director Sandy Botham “failed to provide safety and support to a West student after they allegedly were sexually assaulted.”
The 17-page document was turned into Superintendent Jennifer Cheatham in April by Deirdre Hargrove-Krieghoff, the district’s executive director of human resources, and Eric Kestin, the district’s Title IX investigator. They reviewed nearly a year’s worth of emails from administrators at the school in addition to interviewing nearly 20 athletic department staffers in person. The investigation was launched after allegations from former West High School football coach J.C. Dawkins that his contract had not been renewed due to his race.
The investigators concluded that they didn’t believe Dawkins’ race was a factor in the decision to release him. But they did believe, “There seemed to be a different relationship between Botham (White) and the White football staff when compared to Botham and the African-American football staff.”
The report is particularly critical, though, of Botham and Thompson as it details a heavily-redacted allegation of sexual assault by a student-athlete. Per federal law, district lawyers redacted any information that could potentially identify the student in question.
Both administrators at the school assert the allegation was investigated thoroughly, but Hargrove-Krieghoff and Kestin state the situation raised “multiple concerns” as Botham “seemed to be dismissive about the plight of one of her athletes.” She reportedly “neglected” to meet with the student to deal with the issue. The report knocks Thompson for not following up with her staffer, who the principal blamed for not following up with the student-athlete.
“We worked… to conduct a thorough investigation into a very complex case,” Thompson wrote in a rebuttal to the report. “Sandy Botham was informed but did not conduct the investigation. Appropriate procedures were followed and Legal Services staff was consulted on the type of consequences available and appropriate. A support plan was in place… but Sandy did not follow up with the Coach or student.”
For her part, Botham, in her written response to the investigation, acknowledged she should have been more “persistent” about setting up a meeting with the student-athlete, but angrily rejected the premise she did anything wrong.
“To suggest that I was ‘dismissive about the plight’ of one of our student-athletes is outrageous,” Botham wrote. “I have a deep concern for all student-athletes and I deeply regret not pushing harder to meet with this particular student-athlete.”
Botham also denies that race had anything to do with Dawkins’ dismissal.
“I categorically deny that the decision to dismiss Coach Dawkins was motivated in any way by race,” she wrote. “Coach Dawkins was released solely because of his poor management, poor communication, poor organizational skills and his inability to lead his team and help them reach their full potential.”
News 3 reported last month that internal emails showed concern among top district officials that proper procedures were not followed when Dawkins was let go.
Dawkins’ attorney, Stan Davis, said the report is “a shocking indictment on the leadership of West High School,” and it’s impossible to state that black and white coaches were treated differently by Botham and then say race did not play a role in Dawkins’ dismissal. One example cited in the report surrounds Botham’s criticism of Dawkins for his use of profanity around students and toward referees, while Botham herself acknowledges using the “f” word around students. The investigators criticized Botham for that double standard.
“It is inexplicable that the investigators could conclude that the (Athletic Director) had different relationships with coaches based on their race, but also conclude that race was not a factor in how those coaches were treated by the AD,” wrote Davis in a statement emailed to News 3. “The report makes it clear on multiple occasions that Dawkins was held to a different standard than white coaches and even to a different standard than the one to which the AD held herself.”
Botham, Thompson and West Assistant Principal Mitch McGrath all wrote rebuttals to the report submitted to Cheatham.
In conclusion, Botham wrote, “I disagree with the overall tone and conclusions of the Report… The investigation was more focused on trying to appease a vocal few than it was on trying to better the program.”
Botham reached out to News 3 Wednesday evening and said she wants to go back to work at West.
In an e-mail she said, “On June 2nd, I requested a hearing before the District Board to have my dismissal considered by the full Board. As of today’s date (June 22), the District has not acted on my request. I feel strongly we accomplished much in a relatively short period of time and I want to continue the momentum in the years ahead.”
A spokesperson from the district says they did respond to Botham through her representative, but did not reveal what that answer was.
