WAFF-TV: News, Weather and Sports for Huntsville, ALGrissom Coach could learn fate of employment this week
Grissom High School football coach is on paid administrative leave while the Huntsville City School Board decides his punishment after his DUI arrest.
In the meantime, long time Grissom High Assistant football coach Joe Dasaro will lead the tiger football program on an interim basis.
Grissom High School head football coach Michael Keith Henderson was arrested for DUI Saturday night after a neighbor called police regarding a noise from the practice field.
Superintendent Dr. Casey Wardynski said Henderson was cutting the grass using his personal lawnmower and his personal trailer. The trailer was attached to the school district's vehicle.
Wardynski said there were several large tractor tires on the track and Henderson was working to remove them when his truck got stuck in the ground.
A neighbor reported a loud noise on the practice field to Huntsville Police. Officials arrested Henderson and charged him with driving under the influence.
On Tuesday, WAFF 48 news put in a request to Huntsville Police as to whether Henderson took a breathalyzer test and if so, what was his blood alcohol level at the time of his arrest.
Spokesperson Harry Hobbs denied our request stating it was part of the investigation. However, Dr. Wardynski confirmed that Henderson blew a .12.
WAFF-48's Legal Analyst Mark McDaniel said Henderson was not highly intoxicated.
"Point oh eight is the legal limit. Point one two, depending on the person, maybe 2 beers, maybe 2-3 beers something like that. It's not highly intoxicated if you will. The breathalyzer machine is not always accurate either so this person could be found not guilty of the charge," said McDaniel.
McDaniel said Henderson was charged with a misdemeanor and he will go before a city judge.
McDaniel said a recently revised statute called "Student's First Act" will determine how disciplinary policy is handled especially if the superintendent recommends termination.
"The Chief Executive would have the burden of proof at that hearing. The employee, in this case the coach, has a right to a lawyer," said McDaniel.
McDaniel said if the board terminates an employee the superintendent must give a written notice to the employee within ten days after the vote.
The employee can appeal the decision to the State Superintendent of Education. The state superintendent will then notify The Bar Association. The case will go before a panel of retired circuit judges.
The circuit judge can either uphold the board's decision to terminate or the judge could say "I'm not going along with that" and reinstate the employee with full benefits and back pay.
McDaniel said at that point both sides can then appeal the ruling to the Alabama Court of Civil Appeals.
A decision about Henderson's employment could be made during at Thursday night's board meeting.
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