Brad Young Purchase this photo

Or at least that's the school system's stance.

Young was recently informed by school officials that he will not be rehired as Walkersville High School's softball coach after hosting a party June 11, during which some adults drank beer. Neither Young nor any of his players drank any alcoholic beverages.

The school system determined that Young violated Board Policy 112, which sets the parameters of a drug-free, alcohol-free and tobacco-free workplace and school system.

Young, 44, violated the section of that policy defining school property, schools spokeswoman Marita Loose said Wednesday. In addition to all school buildings and grounds and system-owned or -leased vehicles, the school system defines school property as "any other location where the employee is engaged in official duties."

When Young hosted what Loose called "an official team function," his property became an extension of the school system and was governed by system policies.

The far-reaching policy was created in the face of blatant alcohol use that was condoned by students' parents, said Board of Education President Jean Smith.

"Parents were having keg parties and providing alcohol, thinking it was OK because they took the kids' car keys," Smith said Wednesday. "This policy was created to stop that."

"They don't need a policy for that," Young said in response Wednesday. "They should have arrested those people -- there's a law against that."

The policy

Young said he never received a policy manual when he was hired or at any subsequent rehirings. A contractual coach hired for the softball season, he just completed his fifth season at Walkersville .

"I'm not claiming ignorance is bliss," he said. "I just didn't know such a policy existed."

He thinks the policy is so broadly written that it could be stretched to fit just about any situation.

"The superintendent could be at a Chamber of Commerce meeting sitting next to someone with an alcoholic beverage," Young said of Linda Burgee. "She's there in her official capacity as school superintendent and she's representing the school system.

"Is she in violation of this policy and will she get fired?"

Asked about a similar scenario, Loose refused to discuss it.

"I'm not going to interpret policy," she said.

Asked who could interpret the policy, Loose said, "It's been interpreted and now it's being appealed."

Young has appealed the decision made by the school system and will meet with Burgee on July 29. Junior varsity head coach Danny Cleveland, who was at the gathering and was relieved of his duties, has not yet filed an appeal.

Burgee could not be reached for comment.

Young said he could list any number of examples where alcohol is present at or near school athletic functions. He said alcohol is served at most athletic banquets, and cited an instance of a team event at the Cozy restaurant in Thurmont where parents went to the bar to buy drinks and brought them back to tables. Teams also go to a bowling house in Walkersville that serves alcohol.

"We took a group in there one day and used seven lanes," Young said. "The people at the eighth lane were drinking beer -- did we violate the policy then?"

The softball team was recently honored by the Frederick Keys. At the stadium, the students were surrounded by adults drinking beer.

"We don't give our kids enough credit to do the responsible thing," Young said. "We shouldn't hide things like drinking. Hiding things is what causes trouble. Kids should be able to see adults drinking responsibly."

He thinks the school board is attempting to create policies that govern parenting.

"Policies don't raise good kids," he said. "Good parenting raises good kids."

Smith said "probably" when asked if she thought the school board went from one extreme to another with the creation of the policy.

"I'm sure we'll be looking into it," she said of her board colleagues.

Because she could end up on an appeals board to hear Young's case, Smith said she wouldn't comment further on the matter.

Support

If there is a silver lining to this cloud, Young said, it is the tremendous outpouring of support he has received from all corners of the community.

Walkersville dairy farmer John Zimmerman, whose daughter Jenna played for Young at Walkersville and now plays for Mount St. Mary's University, had nothing but praise for the coach, saying Young goes out of his way for his young charges.

"He's all the time helping get these girls scholarships," Zimmerman said. "He helped my daughter get one."

Zimmerman cited many examples of other athletic gatherings held in places where alcohol was served, and said he doesn't see the difference.

"The school didn't spend any money on this party, Brad paid for it all," he said. "And it was after the season was over. I think it's a shame that they can tell you what you can do in your own house."

Several people stood and testified to his character at a Rotary Club meeting on Wednesday, Young said. After one man said he thinks Young is a good role model for children, the crowd gave the coach a standing ovation.

That Burgee was in the audience made the moment more powerful, Young said.

"Everyone there knew she was there," he said. "She's getting the message loud and clear that they screwed up."

Young, who owns Maryland Financial Planners and is an adjunct teacher at Mount St. Mary's University, is paid about $3,200 a season to coach.

"It's such an insignificant amount that I don't consider it income," he said. "I put the money right back into the girls."

This past season, he bought each team member a $100 jacket and paid for a charter bus to take the team to a tournament, he said.

"For the last game of the season, I had all the seniors delivered to the game in a stretch limo. I do this for the girls."

In the end, he said, he is comfortable with how he lives his life.

"I believe that if you do good things for others, good things happen to you," he said. "That standing ovation today brought tears to my eyes."

His ultimate goal is to have the school system's decision overturned so he can return to coaching.

"What's more important to me is to be of good character and to be a good role model," he said. "I want to return to the team."

Frederick News-Post reporter Pam Rigaux contributed to this story.