The coach of the Proctor high school football team resigned Monday from his coaching and teaching roles, amid a police investigation into alleged student misconduct on the football team.
Coach of the Proctor High School football team resigns amid investigation
School board OK'd separation agreement. The school's football season was canceled at the end of September.
October 12, 2021 at 10:25AM
Derek Parendo, who has been employed by the district for 21 years, will be on a paid leave of absence through the end of the school year and will not return next year, according to Superintendent John Engelking.
The Proctor school board approved a separation agreement with Parendo on Monday night.
The measure appeared on a consent agenda and was not discussed by members.
Board chair Jennifer McDonald declined to comment on the personnel matter.
Engelking told board members the district was offering extra counseling services at the high school, and implementing a character-building program through the athletic department.
He said the investigation was "all-consuming," and that in all his years working in education, he's "never taken anything more seriously."
Citing privacy laws, Engelking defended the district's silence about the investigation.
"Counselors are checking in on students quite often," he said. "You need to know we are doing everything we can to support our kids and our staff."
The school's football season was canceled late last month amid the investigation.
Proctor police continue to investigate the allegations.
Jana Hollingsworth
Six players plus head coach Garrett Raboin and assistant coach Ben Gordon are from Minnesota. The tournament’s games will be televised starting Monday.
