According to court documents, Watonga head football coach Clint Benway was arrested September 8 by the Blaine County Sheriff’s Office and charged with driving a motor vehicle while under the combined influence of alcohol and drugs, a misdemeanor. The charge is the full, correct recount of the statute, but is usually reported as DUI. He was released from custody on $1,000 bail.
Via email, Superintendent Kyle Hilterbran discussed district policy. State law prevents a superintendent or school board member from discussing personnel matters outside executive session.
Hilterbran wrote if someone is arrested and charged with drug or alcohol charges, that would not necessarily be grounds for dismissal. If that person is convicted of a felony, it could be grounds for termination, and they could lose their teaching credentials.
It is permissible for an educator to hold a medical marijuana card; however, they may not be under the influence at school.
Information coming from parents of football team members indicates Benway has been suspended, but that has not been independently verified. He was not on the field for Friday night’s homecoming game against Texhoma.
The superintendent indicated after the September 11 school board meeting that there had been no change to the coaching staff. The board did not enter executive session, and there was no discussion of Benway having resigned during the meeting.