New Details: Sexual Misconduct Reported at Off-Campus Party Connected to Coach's Leave

New information has surfaced regarding Oak Park and River Forest High School coach Mike Powell’s absence from the school due to an unauthorized, off-campus incident.

According to the Wednesday Journal, which conducted interviews with sources related to the case, there has also been an investigation into an alleged case of sexual misconduct that took place at an off-campus party between a victim and members of the wrestling team while Powell was out of town.

Powell, an assistant coach for OPRF’s varsity wrestling team, said he gave several of his students access to his house to take care of his dogs while he was out of the area for a period in August. An unauthorized off-campus party reportedly took place at his home while he was gone.

OPRF Superintendent Joylynn Pruitt sent a email to students, parents and school faculty Tuesday following a board meeting at which several wrestlers and their parents came forward with cases to bring Powell back.

“I’m utterly mystified that removing Coach Powell in any way and in any time period could possibly be the right thing,” Jonna Borgdorff said at the meeting, according to the Journal. “People trespassed on his property. He didn’t invite or encourage this to happen and therefore he’s a victim in all of this, too.”

Pruitt explained in her letter the district had held off on its own investigation of the incident so as not to interfere with the Oak Park Police Department’s ongoing investigation.

However, Pruitt wrote, word had rapidly been spreading around school about the case, and the school district ultimately made the decision to begin its own investigation into the matter.

“As time went on and discussion of the alleged off-campus misconduct became more widespread among students, the District became increasingly concerned not only about the effects of the alleged off-campus misconduct on the school climate, but also about the impact of such on the investigation the District had planned to conduct,” she wrote. “Therefore, in late October, the District informed the police that it could no longer wait for the completion of the police investigation and it planned to launch its own investigation immediately.”

Pruitt also said that the school district will be evaluating itself and looking into whether it should have taken action earlier than October. The report of sexual misconduct, she wrote, was originally reported to the school Aug. 31. The incident is said to have taken place Aug. 27.

The district immediately contacted the Oak Park police about the matter, Pruitt wrote, and that was when the department first requested that the school district step back and allow the police to conduct their investigation.

Pruitt said the district made sure the victim’s needs were taken care of in the school setting immediately, and said the school district plans to hold public conversations about the topic of sexual misconduct so that parents, students and faculty all feel safe with OPRF’s learning environment.

“The District will also undertake a thorough review of and revision to the District’s policies and procedures regarding sexual harassment and misconduct and reporting of such to ensure that students and staff feel comfortable in safely and immediately reporting inappropriate behavior,” Pruitt wrote.

As for the wrestling team, several members have been barred from competing this season due to reports of alcohol consumption at the off-campus party, the Journal reported. Drinking alcohol directly violates a contract the athletes signed as a condition of competing in sports at the school.

Mary Matticks, an OPFR wrestling parent, said at the board meeting Nov. 17 that Powell’s absence from the wrestling mats comes at a difficult time for the team, as the season is just starting.

“Uncertainty clouds their season,” she said. “They deserve their coach.”

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