By Antonio D. French
Filed Tuesday, August 22, 2006 at 9:00 AM
BREAKING NEWS Labels: Breaking_News, Schools, Sports
A source tells PUB DEF that former basketball coach Floyd Irons was at Vashon High School this morning when he complained of chest pains. Shortly after, he was taken away in an ambulance. Irons' condition is not known at this time.
It is not yet know what Irons, who was effectively fired by the district a few weeks ago, was doing at Vashon. He and school board president Veronica O'Brien have been battling in court and in the media since his position was eliminated.
O'Brien claimed to fear for her safety after threats she said she received from Irons supporters. After a young man who had threatened legal action against Irons for an alleged beating by the former coach in 2000 was murdered Friday (police have no suspects and have not said Irons was in any way involved), the school board voted pay for 24-hour security for the board president at a cost of up to $20,000.
Developing...
17 Comments:
May God Bless Coach Irons to come out of this hospitalization strong and healed.
8/22/2006 11:45 AM
Is it $20,000 a week? a month? a quarter?
If it is a year, that is cheap, cheap service, and worth it.
To a speedy recovery of Mr. Irons, even though, well, forget it.
8/22/2006 3:39 PM
The $20K is per month, still think $240k...do you still think this is worth it. A woman who has a family worth over 10million should be paying this bill.
I hope Mr. Irons gets better, I'm starting to get stressed about abou this whole thing myself.
8/22/2006 4:43 PM
Actually, according to SLPS spokesman Tony Sanders, it's $20,000 total.
Contrary to what has been reported other places, the board authorized spending up to, but not more than, $20,000.
They could at a later time authorize more if they feel it is needed, but right now that's the limit. That may pay for one month or several months.
8/22/2006 6:03 PM
When you do so much wrong... for soo many years.. eventually you pay. I dont wish illness upon anyone.. but then again how convienent ..kind of changes the subject from the murder..and at Vashon.. hmmm...what was he doing there?..I saw him and he looked his same old cocky self. He DOES know how to play the media.. any more news on the "mystery" letter..with Creg's human resource person's signature...
8/22/2006 9:57 PM
Inspecteur Clouseau ici: Mes amis, I did not say this, but several are saying Floyd Irons staged this in order to collect sick leave until he retires instead of going to work as a teacher.
The young man who was executed mob style because he was willing to tell all was laid to rest today. Peut-être (Perhaps) it will take a "Cold Case" investigation one day in the future to uncover what and who was behind his killing, as the powers that be probably don't care or won't expend too much effort finding out. Mon opinion seulement (my opinion only)!
Encore, mes amis, bullies (and you have plenty of them in St. Louis) are clever and hard to control.
8/23/2006 2:08 PM
Inspecteur Clouseau ici: Nia, chérè amie, you say: "Gray clouds and innuendo are posionous [sic] for the public. This is serious stuff folks!!!! Please Veronica O'Brien, resign from the office of President so that we can educate our children, properly inform/prepare all district employees, and open up the schools with as much tranquility as possible. We don't want Superstardom. We want the focus to be on our children. The district does not have enough money to 'guard' you. Make the political sacrifice; put aside your ego. Let's move on."
You are right. "Gray clouds and innuendo are poisonous for the public." So, chérè amie, why do you attack and slander Veronica? She is only trying to do her job, mon opinion, and is being relentlessly harassed, threatened, and besmirched. C'est n'est pas bon (It isn't good) to allow this or to promote it.
If Nia really knows, Nia will start speaking up for the truth and the right. The public deserves the ruth and the right, n'est-ce pas?
Ciao! Oh là là, I mean au revoir.
8/23/2006 6:54 PM
Why is Nis blaming Veronica O'Brien she is only one vote. It took four votes to remove him. What about Purdy, Downs and Jones?
8/24/2006 12:22 AM
Mr. or Mrs. Panther, I didn't see Nia attack or slander Mrs. O'Brien. I read it as her opinion of what is going on. Your understanding of the english language may need an upgrade.
8/24/2006 1:17 PM
Inspecteur Clouseau ici: Anonymous, Nia said: "We don't want Superstardom. We want the focus to be on our children...put aside your ego."
How many people think a woman who is being harassed and threatened is seeking "Superstardom"? Is it her "ego," or is she just being loyal to the position, to her dedication to do the best for the children, and faithfulness to the position to which she was elected, first by thousands of St. Louiee voters, and then unanimously by the Board of Education (nominated to be president by Robert Archibald)?
Monsieur, Madame, or Mademoiselle Anonymous, en mon opinion, these are attacks.
Aussi, (also) Inspecteur Clouseau is my name and "the Pink Panther" is my moniker. Watch some Peter Seller's movies re "the Pink Panther."
À bientôt!
8/24/2006 2:22 PM
I think that you are just as bad as the ACC's "Jeff Smith junkies". The ONLY time that the School Board President should be in the news EVERY FREAKIN' DAY is if she/he is being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. It is the School Board President for crying out loud! It SHOULD be the most boring job in Saint Louis. Everyone who voices an opinion other than yours is not attacking her. Calm down and realize that there are other opinions than yours.
TimR
8/24/2006 2:49 PM
TimR, to whom in particular are you addressing your comments? The school board president wouldn't be on these blogs everyday if she wasn't being attacked in some form. She certainly isn't bringing herself to the attention of everyone.
And if you feel there are other legitimate opinions, let them be communicated. I for one read carefully what each person writes to determine if it seems substantial and verifiable.
8/24/2006 3:35 PM
My point was directed at Mssr. Clouseau's previous post that the ACC was a propaganda tool of the Jeff Smith junkies. Which I agree with. The tip of the point is now pointed at Mssr. Clouseau. Who has taken it upon himself to retort to every view other than glowing praise for the SLPS School Board with the same strategy. "We love the School Board, they are better than 'Cats' and we voted for them many times."
TimR
8/24/2006 3:49 PM
Just because I love a healthy dialogue. I think that if Mrs. O'Brien did not expect something along the lines of the protests after making two very political moves. Well, I don't think that she is as smart as you seem to think that she is. That is my view. Squash away...
TimR
8/24/2006 8:33 PM
Inspecteur Clouseau ici: TimR, no need to squash. Nevertheless, Mrs. O'Brien did not as a single person make some political moves. The Board majority made those moves.
Pensez-vous pour juste un moment (Think for just a moment), hundreds, if not a thousand or more employees, lost their positions high and low under the previous board. They had to lump it, didn't they? And for all we know, none of them beat a student within an inch of his life (such inch that was recently diminished to nothing).
Is Monsieur Irons not man enough to take it, as did many supervisors and administrators like him before?
I hope you don't think this is squashing you. I'm just trying to add to the discussion and debate.
Oh, et aussi, in December the Post-Dispatch said Monsieur Irons had not been dealt with by that board for the improprieties and dishonesty. Je crois their editorial was dated December 8, 2005.
Merci et bonne nuit.
8/24/2006 9:27 PM
Good morning.
Realizing that she would be the focal point of any backlash; the WISE leader of an August body about to make two very divicive political moves, would be prepared for that backlash. Not just whine when it does happen.
First, Floyd Irons was guilty of (and I quote) "a Priest/alterboy relationship" and now he has beaten the poor boy to "within inches of his life." It looks like the Peter Downs School of fact checking is giving out Les Cordon Bleu.
Next, it is a very unfortunate fact of life that many thousands of innocent people lose their jobs everyday. And they just have to lump it. Right or wrong, that is the way that it is.
Mr. Irons deserves his day in court. There they will make sure that all of the FACTS come out. And get this, if the defense attorney is any good, the facts will be factual.
To all of you squashers out there waiting to pounce...this is in no way an excuse for Floyd Irons. But he does deserve his day in court. (yes I know that Mr. Bacon was not allowed his.)
Finally, why is there no protest in front of Cheif Mokwa's house demanding a high profile and transparent investigation into this tragic death. Come on Demetrious.
Have a great day.
TimR
8/25/2006 8:23 AM
(Chief)... sorry. (?) at the end, as well... sorry. My editor is 8 months old and did not sleep very well last night.
TimR
8/25/2006 8:34 AM
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