Corpus Christi Caller Times Caller.com - CCISD settles with Wall, OKs Gupton

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Wednesday, January 17, 2001

CCISD settles with Wall, OKs Gupton
School district votes to part with former basketball coach
By George Vondracek
Caller-Times
One coaching era will continue at Miller High School with the one-year extension of the contract of athletics coordinator and football coach Jim Gupton, but another was all but officially ended with a settlement agreement with ex-basketball coach Kevin Wall.
   At Tuesday's meeting, the Corpus Christi Independent School District Board of Trustees voted unanimously to extend Gupton's contract through June 2002. The board also agreed to settle with Wall, the former coach who was fired Sept. 18 following an audit that found mishandling of cash in the program and violations of University Interscholastic League rules.
   Sandra Lanier-Lerma, the interim superintendent of the CCISD, recommended that the board approve the settlement offered by Wall, pending review by attorneys for CCISD and Wall.
   "When things drag on, and when you can find a compromise, it's best for all concerned," Lanier-Lerma said.
   Terms of the agreement weren't announced, although Wall is expected to receive some of his salary, said Linda Bridges, president of the Corpus Christi chapter of the American Federation of Teachers, which represented Wall in his appeal of his dismissal.
   "I can't really release it yet because some of the wording and changes that may occur," Bridges said. "The gist is his salary will be paid for a certain amount of time. He'd resign and there'd be no admission of guilt."
   Had CCISD not agreed to settle the case, Wall's appeal of his dismissal to the Texas Education Association would have continued. A hearing was scheduled for Feb. 8.
   The Wall situation dates to last June, when an audit discovered that more than $1,000 from a school activity account designated for basketball had been mismanaged.
   In August, Wall was hit with a two-year probation and public reprimand for violating UIL rules. The infractions ranged from traveling on Christmas to a Florida tournament, practicing on a Sunday for that tournament and allowing a player to play three times in a week, then subsequently trying to cover that fact.
   Closure
   Board president Pinky Brauer voted against the agreement, with vice president Manuel Flores and members Dot Adkins, Vicki Rothschild and Lucy Rubio voting for the settlement. Board members Rene Vela and Harry Williams did not attend Monday's meeting.
   Brauer said she wasn't ready to agree to a settlement, but said the agreement brings some closure to the matter.
   "I really think it's the main reason the agreement was made," Brauer said. "The Miller community needed some resolution."
   Flores said that CCISD attorney J.W. Gary must review the agreement, but that all that remains is "just dotting the I's and crossing the T's."
   Wall has been out of town and unavailable for comment.
   Show of support for Gupton
   Despite a 3-27 record in his first three seasons, Gupton's annual contract worth approximately $68,000 was extended at the recommendation of Lanier-Lerma, principal Dick Peltz and CCISD athletics director Richard Avila.
   Next season's group of Buccaneers seniors and juniors have won district football championships at the freshman and junior varsity level. Miller hasn't had a winning season since 1994 (5-4).
   "The main reason is we want to give consistency to the staff, that the district shows consistency," Avila said. "Here are your freshmen. What are they going to do in four years?
   "We have to provide some stability and consistency . . . ," Avila said.
   At the meeting, Gupton had a small group of supporters, including All-District 29-5A running back Isaac Collier and John DeLosSantos, the 29-5A newcomer of the year, who spoke on the coach's behalf long before the board went into executive session.
   "I've learned a lot from Coach Gupton," said Michael Chamberlain, a junior lineman and National Honor Society member. "He's like a father to us and we're his children. He's taught me various things like discipline, which he demands, and respect."
   "He's been like a father to us, our friend," junior linebacker Aaron Trevino said. "He's always been there to talk to us. He told us three years ago, that his name was Jim Gupton and his door is always open. 'My name is Jim Gupton and I'm in the phone book if you ever need to call me.'"
   Added DeLosSantos: "I'm a firm believer that Coach Gupton should get a year extension to show you what he can do."
   Brauer said the presentation by the players was impressive.
   "You can't listen to that and not be affected," Brauer said. "But when they said don't take away our father, you can't help but be affected. How many young men could stand up there and do that?"
   Gupton, who replaced Ruben Elizarde, has a 31-49 career coaching mark at Miller. Gupton was unavailable for comment Tuesday.


Staff writer George Vondracek can be reached at 886-3731 or by e-mail at vondracekg@caller.com

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