Dayton Christian apologizes, explains 'omissions'

by William H. Wild

DAYTON - Dayton Christian Schools, caught in a foreign student athlete scandal reported at length in the Dayton Daily News, admitted that it erred, but indicated an extensive independent investigation showed its part was small and largely due to errors of omission rather than commission.

A news release outlined the findings of Dr. Daniel Raisch, former Oakwood Schools superintendent and now associate dean for administration at the University of Dayton School of Education and Allied Professions. Raisch headed a committee that included parents, administrators, faculty and trustees. A member of the governing board of Fairhaven Church, he was retained by the Dayton Christian (DC) trustees, but declined to accept any payment.

The gist of the findings: The international students program outreach was used by outside agents to bring student athletes into this country in violation of U.S. laws and regulations and especially of Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) rules. Poor oversight allowed this to happen to the detriment of the international outreach and the athletic program.

In an earlier letter to parents, Superintendent Claude E. (Bud) Schindler said that "even the appearance of evil deeply grieves our spirits .... We are convinced that this investigative process, painful though it may be, will result in improvements to our athletic and international student programs."

In an interview, Schindler blamed himself for letting his time and staff be "spread too thin" while trying to understand what was happening and avoid the problems that cropped up primarily over one athlete from Africa.

As a result of the investigation, new procedures have been implemented:

Only international students from approved agencies meeting all state and federal requirements will be eligible for athletics at DC. Some current athletes, as a result, will not be able to participate further but can continue their educations.

A full-time athletic director will be hired for DC High School.

Only the high school principal will be permitted to sign OHSAA forms. They may not delegate that responsibility.

A director of the international student program will be named with clear responsibility and accountability. That person will report to the assistant superintendent.

Schindler said that the Raisch committee findings were reviewed by a committee of 10 pastors to ensure that they meet the high standards that Dayton Christian Schools has always insisted are vital to its mission.

In the interview, Schindler said the controversy has been "a learning experience, one that included mistakes, but a process that will allow us to learn from our mistakes and be better for it."

Schindler noted that the school's international student program in five years had reached 82 youngsters, only 19 of which were athletes, primarily from one agent. "The perception that we were recruiting athletes is wrong," he said. "What we failed to see, perhaps because we could see only the success of athletics, was that we weren't living up to our standards. We should have been more careful. The agent had an agenda we didn't see.

"Now," he added, "we have to emphasize that our international student mission is to expose all our students to a wider world view and to share the Gospel with young people from countries where their opportunities are far less than here."

Schindler said it is vital for the investigation and "healing process" to "remove all doubt about this program, to accept full responsibility for what happened and to restore the institution's lost credibility."

One publicized casualty of the aftermath was basketball coach Dave Jackson, who resigned but has been asked to continue as a teacher. "He removed himself from the coaching position because he felt it was important to the institution," Schindler said. "He feels teaching and coaching is his mission. If he leaves so he can also coach again, we will understand."

Schindler said the entire investigative process has been to uncover facts and find solutions. "There is no spin about this," he emphasized. "We are determined about this and to be truthful and humble. This is God's way. Indeed, we believe that God allowed this to happen and that it is up to us to repair the damage and to understand what God is teaching us. There is no other way."

In February, the Dayton Christian High School girls' and boys' basketball teams were forced to forfeit their seasons due to "improper documentation for foreign students to compete in athletics, according to OHSAA. At issue was whether foreign exchange students properly transferred legal guardianship to their host families before a U.S. judge. Six students were ruled ineligible for sports.