The school board has terminated the employment of the Brown County High School boys soccer coach after he allegedly sent an inappropriate text message to a student.
The board unanimously approved August “Skip” Simons’ termination effective Sept. 9 at the Sept. 19 meeting. Sept. 9 is the day the school corporation became aware of the allegation, says a statement from Superintendent Laura Hammack.
In accordance with the corporation’s protocol, the Indiana Department of Child Services was contacted. In Indiana, any adult who suspects child abuse is required to contact DCS.
DCS is conducting an investigation. The district’s school resource officer, Brown County Sheriff’s Deputy Greg Duke, is assisting.
No criminal charges have been filed against Simons.
“Our first priority at Brown County Schools is to educate children in a safe environment. All employees are subject to an extended background check. We feel our systems to prevent the hiring of anyone who might put students in danger are very strong, but we will review our procedures to see if they can be improved,” Hammack said.
Due to data privacy laws, the school corporation was unable to share any other information about the situation, Hammack’s statement said.
Simons attended the Sept. 19 school board meeting to apologize “for any hardships I had caused.” He said that for the last month, he had been feeling burnt out after working 60 to 70 hours a week along with coaching the high school’s soccer team and soccer for Brown County Parks and Recreation.
“I was too proud and stubborn to ask for help when it was present all along,” he wrote in a statement to The Democrat. “… For over two years, I have poured my heart, soul, and love into the growth of the ‘futbolers’ of BC (Brown County) in any age group, year round. As such, I ‘emptied my cup’ and I burned out. I lost myself.”
Simons, 37, is no longer a coach for parks and recreation either. He had been coaching a coed parks and rec soccer team of 11- to 13-year-olds this season.
He had been hired as the high school boys soccer coach in August 2018.
The school board approved Assistant Coach Craig Norris to serve as the new head coach for the high school boys soccer team.
“Craig is an incredible young man, close to their age and the boys love him,” Simons said. “He is knowledgeable of the game and he is also involved with youth groups in the area. I fully trust him to lead our boys soccer team.”
“I was at the board meeting to accept the consequences for my mistakes head on and not to hide from them,” Simons added.
“I now owe that same respect and apology to my stronger, more close family members, ‘the Brown County Futbol Family.’”
When asked about the allegation that he sent an inappropriate text message to the student, Simons had no further comment.
