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BANGOR – Steve Vanidestine will return to his post as athletic director at Bangor High School on Tuesday, according to superintendent Dr. Robert Ervin.
Vanidestine, Bangor’s AD for the past 22 years, has been off the job since Feb. 28, the result of a school department investigation into an incident that took place after a Feb. 15 basketball game in which a student alleged he was assaulted by the school official.
Vanidestine was suspended for three weeks without pay as a result of the investigation, and since that suspension ended has been on paid administrative leave while fulfilling additional requirements as designated by the school department. He also was placed on school probation for a year.
Vanidestine learned of his reinstatement during a meeting with Ervin on Friday morning.
“Mr. Vanidestine will be returning to work on Tuesday morning,” said Ervin. “He has successfully met the requirements for returning to work.
“It’s what he wants to do, to get back to work, and I’m pleased things are getting back to normal.”
The incident that sparked the suspension and subsequent leave took place immediately after an Eastern Maine Class A boys basketball playoff game between Bangor and Brewer at Red Barry Gymnasium on the Bangor High campus.
According to 18-year-old Dave Brookings, a Bangor High senior, he and a group of students decided to congratulate the Bangor team after its victory and went on the court, where he was stopped by Vanidestine.
After the incident, Brookings went to police with a complaint involving Vanidestine.
Vanidestine subsequently was summoned for assault, and legal proceedings related to the case remain in the hands of the Penobscot County District Attorney’s Office.
“The District Attorney’s Office still has the case under review because it is a serious matter,” said Penobscot County District Attorney R. Christopher Almy. “Mr. Vanidestine’s misconduct here is being carefully evaluated. It’s required a lot of investigation from the police department, a lot of review by our office.
“As you can tell, it’s already caused a fair amount of turmoil in the community, which is unfortunate,” added Almy. “But, nevertheless, we are still reviewing this, [and] there are other witnesses that would have to be interviewed.
“There’s a lot of legwork that has to be done.”
Vanidestine has referred all questions about the matter to his attorney, Terence Harrigan of Bangor, who currently is on vacation.
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