New information released after Southern Alamance high school football coach removed from position

CHRIS, THANK YOU. TODAY, STUDENTS AND PARENTS PROTESTED THE SUSPENSION OF AN ALAMANCE COUNTY FOOTBALL COACH AND TEACHER. THEY HAVE QUESTIONS AS TO WHY THE SCHOOL SYSTEM IS CONDUCTING AN INVESTIGATION IN THE FIRST PLACE. JOSHUA DAVIS JOINS US FROM BURLINGTON THIS AFTERNOON OUTSIDE OF DISTRICT HEADQUARTERS. AND JOSHUA, HOW DID THOSE PARENTS AND STUDENTS PROTEST TODAY. YOU KNOW, EARLIER TODAY, DAVONTAE STUDENTS WERE OUT HERE WAVING SIGNS LIKE THIS IN SUPPORT OF WALTER HESSENTHALER OF SOUTHERN ALAMANCE HIGH SCHOOL, WHO THEY KNOW BETTER AS COACH FRITZ. WE SUPPORT HIM SO MUCH AND THAT HE HAS A WHOLE COMMUNITY BEHIND HIM AND THAT WE LOVE HIM SO MUCH. ON TUESDAY, THE DISTRICT CONFIRMED THAT ABSCESS WAS ALERTED OCTOBER 30TH BY THE ALAMANCE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE OF CONCERNS RELATED TO A STAFF MEMBER. THE ALERT WAS FOLLOWED BY AN INVESTIGATION INTO HESSENTHALER WITH THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, SAYING THEY INTERVIEWED STUDENTS, STAFF, ADMINISTRATORS AND FAMILIES OVER THE COURSE OF THREE DAYS. CONCERNS ARE BROUGHT TO THE DISTRICT OFFICE AS IT RELATES TO AN EMPLOYEE. AN INVESTIGATION IS LAUNCHED AND THEN AT THAT POINT, HUMAN RESOURCES DECIDES WHETHER THAT EMPLOYEE IS PLACED ON PAID LEAVE OR UNPAID LEAVE PENDING THE OUTCOME OF THE INVESTIGATION. AT THIS TIME, WE STILL DON’T KNOW THE REASON FOR THE INVESTIGATION. A SPOKESPERSON SAYS IT’S A PERSONNEL MATTER, AND AS SUCH REMAINS CONFIDENTIAL. HE WAS REMOVED FROM HIS DUTIES AS A HEAD FOOTBALL COACH AND THEN SUSPENDED WITHOUT PAY AS IT RELATED TO HIS TEACHING ROLE. STUDENTS PROTESTING ON HIS BEHALF SAY THEY WANT COACH BACK. HIT ME DOWN DEEP BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I’VE BEEN WITH FRIDGE FOR FOUR YEARS AND. IT JUST MADE ME SAD BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, TO THINK THAT HE WASN’T GOING TO BE WITH US FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR, THE PLAYOFFS AND EVEN SCHOOL BECAUSE I HAVE HIS CLASS. SO IT JUST HIT ME. WE CERTAINLY DID SPEAK WITH THEM HERE AT THE CENTRAL OFFICE AND HAVE LISTENED TO THEIR CONCERNS LATELY, WHETHER A PERSON REMAINS EMPLOYED IS A BOARD DECISION. AND SO ONCE THAT RECOMMENDATION IS MADE, PENDING THE OUTCOME OF AN INVESTIGATION, GENERALLY SPEAKING, IT IS REALLY A BOARD DECISION. ABS SAYS THIS INVESTIGATION IS STILL ONGOING, BUT WE DON’T YET KNOW HOW LONG THE INVESTIGATION ITSELF WILL TAKE. REPORTING LIVE FROM BURLINGTON, I’M JOSH

Editor's Note: Video features original report on Nov. 3.School leaders are releasing new information after a high school football coach was removed from his position.On Nov. 3, the Alamance-Burlington School System announced the head football coach of Southern Alamance High School, Walter Hessenthaler, also known as "Coach Fritz," was removed from his position. The school system provided more information on Tuesday that ABSS administrators were alerted on Oct. 30 by the Alamance County Sheriff’s Office of some concerns related to Hessenthaler.Top Stories North Carolina Election Day 2023: When will polls open and close?Greensboro police: 16-year-old dies following a crash on I-73 North and West Friendly AvenueNorth Carolina man arrested after hours-long standoff with Wilkes County deputies, authorities say The school system said they immediately opened an investigation, which included multiple interviews and conversations with students, staff, administrators, and families that took place over three days. As a result, school leaders said he was removed from his coaching position on Nov. 3. They also said they notified those impacted as soon as possible. They also advised the sheriff’s office of their findings as a follow-up to their initial investigation. Watch: NOWCAST streaming newscasts“ABSS puts the highest priority on student safety and well-being while also holding our employees to the highest possible standard in professional conduct. Since Superintendent Dr. Butler announced this strict stance against misconduct last September, we have acted on numerous reports resulting in student long-term suspensions and appropriate consequences for staff,” they said.Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking hereHessenthaler is also a social studies teacher at the school and has been with the Alamance-Burlington School System since 2018. He also worked as an assistant coach for Southern Alamance High in the late 1990s and early 2000s.The school district released the following full statement to families at Southern Alamance High School. "We believe it is necessary to provide clarity regarding the recent removal of the Southern Alamance High School Head Football Coach. On the evening of October 30, ABSS administrators were alerted by the Alamance County Sheriff’s Office of some concerns related to a staff member, Walter Friedrich Hessenthaler, at Southern Alamance High School. "Staff immediately opened an investigation which included multiple interviews and conversations with students, staff, administrators, and families. These interviews continued over a three-day period. "As a result, he was removed from his coaching position on November 3. There is never a good time to release information such as this. However, we completed the investigation process by notifying those impacted as soon as possible. "Additionally, we advised the Sheriff’s Department of our findings as a follow-up to their initial notification. "ABSS puts the highest priority on student safety and well-being while also holding our employees to the highest possible standard in professional conduct. Since Superintendent Dr. Butler announced this strict stance against misconduct last September, we have acted on numerous reports resulting in student long-term suspensions and appropriate consequences for staff. "We will continue to uphold high standards across the District and provide a safe, nurturing environment for all students."NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Watch NOWCAST TV | Local News | National | News We Love |Trending Stories Keep up with the latest news and weather by downloading the WXII app here.

ALAMANCE COUNTY, N.C. —

Editor's Note: Video features original report on Nov. 3.

School leaders are releasing new information after a high school football coach was removed from his position.

On Nov. 3, the Alamance-Burlington School System announced the head football coach of Southern Alamance High School, Walter Hessenthaler, also known as "Coach Fritz," was removed from his position.

The school system provided more information on Tuesday that ABSS administrators were alerted on Oct. 30 by the Alamance County Sheriff’s Office of some concerns related to Hessenthaler.

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The school system said they immediately opened an investigation, which included multiple interviews and conversations with students, staff, administrators, and families that took place over three days. As a result, school leaders said he was removed from his coaching position on Nov. 3. They also said they notified those impacted as soon as possible. They also advised the sheriff’s office of their findings as a follow-up to their initial investigation.

Watch: NOWCAST streaming newscasts

“ABSS puts the highest priority on student safety and well-being while also holding our employees to the highest possible standard in professional conduct. Since Superintendent Dr. Butler announced this strict stance against misconduct last September, we have acted on numerous reports resulting in student long-term suspensions and appropriate consequences for staff,” they said.

Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here

Hessenthaler is also a social studies teacher at the school and has been with the Alamance-Burlington School System since 2018. He also worked as an assistant coach for Southern Alamance High in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

The school district released the following full statement to families at Southern Alamance High School.

"We believe it is necessary to provide clarity regarding the recent removal of the Southern Alamance High School Head Football Coach. On the evening of October 30, ABSS administrators were alerted by the Alamance County Sheriff’s Office of some concerns related to a staff member, Walter Friedrich Hessenthaler, at Southern Alamance High School.

"Staff immediately opened an investigation which included multiple interviews and conversations with students, staff, administrators, and families. These interviews continued over a three-day period.

"As a result, he was removed from his coaching position on November 3. There is never a good time to release information such as this. However, we completed the investigation process by notifying those impacted as soon as possible.

"Additionally, we advised the Sheriff’s Department of our findings as a follow-up to their initial notification.

"ABSS puts the highest priority on student safety and well-being while also holding our employees to the highest possible standard in professional conduct. Since Superintendent Dr. Butler announced this strict stance against misconduct last September, we have acted on numerous reports resulting in student long-term suspensions and appropriate consequences for staff.

"We will continue to uphold high standards across the District and provide a safe, nurturing environment for all students."

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Keep up with the latest news and weather by downloading the WXII app here.

New information released after Southern Alamance high school football coach removed from position

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