Northern parents take case to NAACP
GREENSBORO — Parents of Northern Guilford students have filed grievances with the Greensboro chapter of the NAACP relating to Guilford County Schools' investigation into Northern's athletics department, the latest sign that the scandal that stripped the Nighthawks of their state basketball crown isn't going away anytime soon.
The Rev. Cardes Brown, president of the local NAACP, said he met with several Northern parents Sunday at the group's regularly scheduled meeting. After hearing their stories, Brown instructed the chapter's committee members to investigate the parents' claims.
"Having only gotten my information (on the investigation) from the newspaper and the media, it was very disturbing to hear some of the things that were told to me," he said. "Like any situation the NAACP gets involved in, we want to make sure everyone is treated fairly and with dignity."
Brown said parents accused Superintendent Maurice "Mo" Green of meeting privately last week with the two basketball players who were ruled ineligible and blaming them for the school losing its 3-A state title. Another parent, Brown said, told of a Guilford County Sheriff's Deputy showing up at her home last month to verify whether her son lives within Northern's attendance zone.
Nora Carr, Green's chief of staff, said the NAACP informed school officials Tuesday afternoon of the grievances.
"We're confident that the NAACP will find that our process and procedures were respectful and appropriate," she said.
School board member Amos Quick attended the meeting. He did not return telephone calls Tuesday.
Many of the 16 parents who attended the meeting did not want to talk with a reporter. One father, who declined to be identified, said parents told the NAACP their children and Northern are being singled out. He said parents also complained about the resignations of Northern principal Joe Yeager, athletics director Derrell Force and head custodian Louis Lawson, whose son Jacob played basketball.
All of the parents who attended the meeting were black, but Stan Kowalewski, who lost his job last week as Northern's basketball coach, said the meeting was not motivated by race.
"More than anything they want the injustice done to Northern to be compared to (other ongoing investigations) in the county and see if what has happened has been fair," he said.
Green has said the school system is also investigating whether Page officials knowingly used an ineligible football player in 2008. Sources have said schools system officials are looking into recruiting allegations at Dudley and Northeast Guilford that have come to light since the Northern investigation.
Sunday's meeting is the latest indication Kowalewski and Northern parents are prepared to fight the schools system's ruling that Northern Guilford played five ineligible students in four sports — infractions that cost the Nighthawks' their 3-A state basketball title and bounced the baseball team from the state playoffs.
Kowalewski has said many parents of basketball players are considering legal action.
Investigators ruled last week that officials at Northern should have been able to determine that five students were not living within the school's boundaries. Jill Wilson, the school system's attorney, has said determining eligibility is the responsibility of a school's principal, the athletics director and the head coach.
On Tuesday, schools system officials revised the breakdown of students who were found to be ineligible. Carr said investigators originally ruled two baseball players — not one — were ineligible. She said some of the students played more than one sport. The number of ineligible students is five.
Contact Robert Bell at 373-7055 or robert.bell@news-record.com
Accompanying Photos
Photo Caption: Northern Guilford basketball coach Stan Kowalewski is hugged by his players after the Nighthawks defeated Gastonia Forestview in the 3-A state championship game in March.
INVESTIGATION SO FAR
After hearing allegations of ineligible students playing athletics at Northern, Guilford County Schools began an investigation in late 2008.
On Sept. 13, school system officials ruled five Northern Guilford athletes ineligible. The school was stripped of its 3-A state boys basketball title. The baseball, JV softball and wrestling teams had to forfeit wins.
Developments
On Sunday, parents of some of the players ruled ineligible met with the local NAACP branch to discuss the school system's handling of the issue.
What is next?
Schools Superintendent Maurice "Mo" Green said officials are investigating claims by the mother of the ineligible Page student that Page athletics officials knew her son lived outside the school's area. Sources say Dudley and Northeast Guilford also will be looked into.
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