Even though Harrison County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Mark Manchin will be recommending the termination of Bridgeport High School football Coach and Liberty High School teacher Josh Nicewarner at Tuesday’s regular meeting, he said the action is a “moot point.”

 

Nicewarner was arrested Friday and is accused of felony charges of attempting to seduce via a computer a 14-year-old girl, according to the criminal complaint. The 34-year-old coach and teacher allegedly distributed obscene matter to the victim over a two-and-a-half month period stretching from May 1, 2017 through July 18, 2017.

 

Immediately after learning of the charges Friday, Manchin suspended Nicewarner without pay. Then, shortly thereafter Manchin said additional information came that led him to opt for a recommendation of termination. That led to the item of termination being added to Tuesday’s BOE meeting where Manchin would make the recommendation to the elected Board, which is the group that has the power to terminate an employee.

 

“When I was told he confessed was the point that I recommended the termination, but it’s basically moot. I’ve read in several reports that the termination will happen at our meeting Tuesday, but he will not be terminated Tuesday,” said Manchin. “I really have to emphasize that being the case.”

 

The reasoning for that, said Manchin, has nothing to do with the Board of Education or himself. Rather, he said it has everything to do with due process, or the legal process involved in cases such as this where innocence or guilt is determined or a plea is entered.

 

“Regardless of the person or the situation, if there’s due process involved and termination is recommended before that due process is complete there can be no official action taken. Usually, it doesn’t matter,” Manchin said. “In nearly every situation the individual resigns.”

 

Manchin said it’s his understanding that such will be the case with Nicewarner. If that happens, he said, the Board of Education would only have to act on accepting the resignation and not have to wait for due process with the legal system.

 

“Through channels, I’ve been told he’s resigning. Once that happens, it’s over from our standpoint and becomes a criminal matter in the legal system,” said Manchin.

 

Manchin did say the matter, which is personnel related, will be discussed in executive session. He added that he didn’t think a resignation letter, if received prior to the meeting, would be acted upon since it’s not part of the agenda.

 

“The key thing with such a tragic event is to act swiftly and we have. A lot of people are focusing on the coaching aspect, but he’s a teacher first,” said Manchin. “In this case, my decision is based on, and the board is concerned first and foremost with, the health and safety of our students and of our student-athletes.”

 

Manchin, who said he has worked closely with the administrations at both schools, said there is a plan of action in place for naming an interim coach at Bridgeport High School. However, he said it wasn’t time to announce that plan. An interim coach could be named Tuesday evening as the BOE meets at 6 p.m. in their new building on Main Street in Clarksburg.

 

Also, Harrison County Magistrate Tammy Marple has confirmed that Nicewarner's preliminary hearing has been set. She told Connect-Bridgeport that it will take place on August 8 at 10:15 a.m.