Schools
Update: Maple Grove High School Boys Hockey Coach Reinstated After Administrative Leave
Osseo School District official following Gary Stefano's brief administrative leave: "Earlier this evening, we concluded our investigation and we're pleased to report that Mr. Stefano has been reinstated to his head coaching position."
Updated 8:45 p.m. Jan. 18, 2012
The following statement was received from Osseo School District School/Community Relations Director Barbara Olson via email:
As you know, the district received a complaint about Maple Grove Senior High hockey team behavior. In order to conduct a thorough investigation, and according to district protocol, yesterday we placed Mr. Stefano on administrative leave with pay from his coaching responsibility, pending the district’s investigation. Earlier this evening, we concluded our investigation and we’re pleased to report that Mr. Stefano has been reinstated to his head coaching position.
Find out what's happening in Maple Grovefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Over the course of Mr. Stefano’s leadership with Maple Grove Senior High hockey during the past 17 years, he has developed a strong hockey program and made significant contributions to our school community. We look forward to continued success for the program.
Original Article 4:16 p.m. Jan. 18, 2012
Find out what's happening in Maple Grovefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Maple Grove Senior High boys varsity hockey coach Gary Stefano was placed on “administrative leave with pay” from his coaching position on Jan. 17 pending an investigation, according to Osseo School District School/Community Relations Director Barbara Olson.
He remains in his teaching position as a physical education teacher at Maple Grove Junior High.
The investigation earlier this week “into the incident with student athletes has concluded, and this is a separate investigation,” according to Olson.
Several players from the Maple Grove Senior High boys hockey team were reportedly been suspended from play for several game, the StarTribune.com reported the suspensions involved 13 players for at least two games.
“The off-campus incident that was reported to school officials this week took place in mid-December,” Osseo School District School/Community Relations Director Barbara Olson wrote to Patch in an email earlier this week.
Stefano was not on the bench during the Jan. 17 game against Blaine High School, according to StarTribune.com.
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