STROZIER ACCUSED OF SMOKING POT WITH STUDENTS

KINGSTON - Kevin Strozier, Kingston High School's girls basketball
coach until his sudden resignation last month, was being investigated
for allegations of drug use with students when he resigned from his
post at the school, a district official said this week.

North Kitsap School District Assistant Superintendent Chris Willits
said Strozier was placed on administrative leave Nov. 10, two days
before Strozier resigned, while the district investigated allegations
he had used drugs with students.

Strozier did not return messages left on his home and cell phones this
week.

In a letter sent to Strozier and dated Nov. 11, the district wrote,
"The North Kitsap School District has received allegations of
misconduct against you involving drug use with students. As you are
aware, the Kitsap County Sheriff's Department has been investigating
this matter and has, or will be, forwarding a report to County
Prosecutor's Office."

Kitsap Sheriff's spokesman Scott Wilson said Tuesday the department's
investigation began Nov. 5 and a report was sent to the prosecutor's
office Nov. 12. Wilson said the allegations were made by students who
claimed there was a video showing Strozier and some students smoking
marijuana. He said no such video was found, and the investigation did
not develop probable cause for an arrest.

"I'd hate for people to draw conclusions about the process, because
the process has not produced conclusions," Willits said.

On Monday, Willits said the district will place an employee on
administrative leave if officials believe there is validity to an
accusation made against them.

Willits later added that placing a staff member on administrative
leave during an investigation does not mean the district believes the
person is guilty. He said the district will place a staff member on
administrative leave if allegations against that person are serious
enough.

"None of the actions the district took were predicated on a judgment
being made," Willits said. "Sometimes the allegations just need to be
strong enough. It could be simply the allegations are so serious."

Chris Case, spokeswoman for the district, had declined to say whether
Strozier was on administrative leave when Strozier's resignation was
first reported by the Herald. But both Case and Kingston High Athletic
Director Dan Novick said Strozier did not give a reason for his
resignation Nov. 12, four days before team tryouts for the 2009-10
season.

When contacted by the Herald last month, Strozier said he quit to
spend time with his family.

In 2007, while a coach at Lincoln High School in Tacoma, Strozier was
placed on administrative leave after being accused of not following
procedures regarding an altercation between two players at a practice.

When Strozier was hired by Kingston in 2007, Novick told the Tacoma
News Tribune Strozier had been vetted by the district.

Despite the accusations against Strozier, Novick stands by the
district's decision to hire him.

"I still feel good," Novick said Thursday. "From a procedural
standpoint, we didn't have any issues with Coach Strozier here."