REYNOLDS Football coach files suit

Roger Shoaf sued the school district under Pennsylvania's Whistleblower Law.
By HAROLD GWIN
VINDICATOR SHARON BUREAU
TRANSFER, Pa. -- Reynolds School Board says it didn't really fire its football coach when it announced in January that it was opening the position to new applicants.
Coach Roger Shoaff, an English teacher in the district, didn't see it that way.
He filed a lawsuit against the school board and superintendent contending he had been terminated and was being retaliated against for notifying the Pennsylvania Auditor General's Office that the superintendent, Charles Cagno, had improperly used school materials and vehicles.
Investigation: The auditor general launched an investigation that eventually led the school board to suspend the superintendent for five days without pay.
Shortly thereafter, Shoaff learned the school board opened the coaching position despite a good evaluation of his performance just two months earlier. He sued under the state's Whistleblower Law which protects those who report on wrongdoing from retaliation.
Atty. Mark Longietti, school board solicitor, said it wasn't the board's intent to terminate Shoaff's contract in January. His contract runs through June 30 and he is coach until then, Longietti said.
Misunderstanding: School officials were at a loss to understand why Shoaff said he had been terminated until a careful review of the teacher contract turned up a clause that said the board has the right to terminate coaches by opening their positions for applications before the end of the school year, Longietti said.
By opening his contract in January, Shoaff thought he was fired, Longietti said.
The board corrected the issue Wednesday, voting to rescind the January motion.
The board indicated it will look at coaching candidates and Shoaff can apply like anyone else, Longietti said.