Saugerties school board says independent probe into coach incident nears completion; limited details to be released

A board member provided an update Wednesday that the independent investigation into an incident involving the district’s wrestling coach is nearing completion and that a separate legal review by outside counsel is still under way.

The board member said the investigator reached out to 40 people and 39 agreed to be interviewed and described interviewees as “extremely cooperative and forthcoming with information.” The board also said the district engaged the Albany law firm Gercio & Gercio to complete the legal component of the review and that lawyers are preparing guidance on what parts of the report may be shared publicly.

Why it matters: The board said the investigation’s main component centered on the incident involving a wrestling coach, but that opening the investigator’s inquiry produced a broader set of materials — some dating back decades — that the legal team is compiling. The district cautioned that it will not “time box” the work and will release the report only after legal counsel clarifies what can be shared.

Board actions and follow‑up: The board said some recommendations already have been implemented, including changes to human resources practices and procedures that administrators began applying before the final report was issued. The speaker emphasized that district lawyers will advise the board on disclosure limits and asked the public to direct questions about status to the board’s designated contact rather than to the investigator.

Context and process details: The board member said the investigator had a list of 40 people and that other material and emails submitted during the probe included matters from many years earlier. The legal review will determine what the district can publish; until then, the board said it will continue to implement administrative changes where appropriate.

What the board did not do: No formal vote or study directive was recorded regarding the investigation at the open meeting. The board said it would provide what it can once counsel advises on permissible disclosures.

Quotation: “Everyone who she talked to was extremely cooperative and forthcoming with information,” the board member said when summarizing interview participation.

Next steps: The board said it will review the full report and legal recommendations, then share what is allowable under counsel guidance. Members encouraged those with questions to email the board for status updates.