WIAA investigation finds evidence that Bellevue football boosters paid for athletes’ tuition

Published 4:35 pm Thursday, April 14, 2016

Investigators were able to uncover facts supporting allegations that football players received financial benefits and were instructed to attend the Academic Institute, according to a press statement that inflamed the football community’s anger and for which the Bellevue School District later apologized.

In a joint statement released by the WIAA and the district on April 14, it was revealed that third party investigators were able to find facts related to allegations that Bellevue football coaches directed athletes to attend the Academic Institute, football boosters paid athletes’ tuition at the Academic Institute, false addresses were used to gain eligibility to play Bellevue High School football and coaches coordinated tuition payments for athletes.

“The Bellevue School District is committed to a thorough review and a timely response to all information included in the fact-finding report. Per WIAA process, Bellevue High School will report on the findings to the KingCo League,” the release stated.

The press release reignited parents’ and students’ frustrations concerning the investigation. More than a dozen football players and parents expressed anger at Tuesday’s school board meeting, with one mother saying she and her son were lied to when told that the district had taken steps to ensure students’ rights were not impeded by the investigators.

District Superintendent Tim Mills later sent a letter to select football on April 19, apologizing for the joint release.

“I have heard concerns that the media release unfairly created the bias that those associated with the program, specifically the coaching staff and boosters, are guilty of rules violations. I apologize if the release created this perceptions… It is important to note that there have been no determinations made at this time,” Mills wrote in his letter, adding that the administration is still in the process of verifying the WIAA report’s findings.

The investigation and subsequent report was commissioned by the WIAA and the Bellevue School District after allegations, including that athletes received subsidized housing, were brought forward last August. There was insufficient information to support the subsidized housing allegation, according to the release.

The Bellevue Wolverwines Football Club — the booster club associated with the Bellevue High School football team — disagreed with the report’s findings, while acknowledging that they do donate to the Academic Institute.

“We strongly disagree with the notion that the [club] violated any WIAA rules. As a charitable, youth-focused nonprofit, we are proud to donate funds to a wide range of organizations. Yes, we have made unrestricted donations to the Academic Institute, given with no direction as to how they are to be used,” the release stated. “On the four other items mentioned by the WIAA/BSD press release, it is important to note that the press release does not state that any violations were established, nor does it back up the investigators’ accusations with any evidence.”

The allegations addressed in the WIAA report were brought forward after the district was cited in June for violating WIAA articles relating to out-of-season coaching and illegal recruiting. The full text of the fact-finding report was not released publicly, and public records requests for said report were not fulfilled at press time.

“Our mission is to ensure that all students in the state are competing on a fair and level playing field,” said WIAA Executive Director Mike Colbrese. “The association provides structure and process for schools and districts to ensure there is accountability.”

The district and the WIAA declined to answer further questions.

The investigation was met with some controversy, including allegations of racial bias. The school district has since launched an internal investigation into complaints against the third party investigators who conducted the interviews and compiled the report.

The football club’s statement cited community concerns of racial profiling, harrassment and bullying on the part of the investigators and alleged that the investigation was “fatally flawed from the outset.” They declined to provide further comment.