Knights' owner tossed from school board meeting

April 26, 2006

By Pat Litowitz
New Castle News


Unnecessary rudeness may quash a semi-pro football team’s effort to use Taggart Stadium.

Looking to secure an agreement to use the district’s playing field, the owner and general manager of the New Castle Knights met with the New Castle school board’s athletic committee.

Last night’s session degenerated into a shouting match as Knights’ owner, the Rev. David M. Gailbreath, was ordered to leave.

“I’m done with these people,” Gailbreath yelled after he left the room.

Committee members pointedly asked Gailbreath and general manager M. David Cochenour questions regarding items such as the team’s finances, insurance coverage, stadium usage and legal representation.

At the outset, district solicitor Charles Sapienza told the two he is protecting the interests of the school board and district. His main concern is that of liability, with a focus on player injuries and damage to the facility and field.

“I’m the voice of darkness sometimes,” he said.

Sapienza explained that proper documents — such as a mission statement, insurance policies and security agreements — would assist the committee in making its recommendation to the school board.

“I want to see your proposed policies, your exclusions. Whatever you say tonight will not convince me until I see documents.”

While Cochenour answered the inquiries in a direct and calm tone, Gailbreath appeared to take exception to the members’ comments. At times, he rolled his eyes in response to questioning.

Gailbreath focused his arguments on the benefits the New Castle Knights would bring to the community. He claimed the Knights would generate approximately $17,000 for the district in the team’s inaugural season.

At one point, he stated the board was stonewalling the team’s efforts.

“Tough-guy attitudes don’t go far in this town,” Sapienza said. “You’re not dealing with a bunch of rookies.”

As the session neared its conclusion, board President Fred Mozzocio told Gailbreath to watch the manner in which he addressed the committee.

“You should try to tone it down in terms of respect,” he said. “Everything was a bother that we asked you to do.”

As Gailbreath argued with the committee once more, Superintendent George Gabriel told him to leave the school administration offices, located in the Croton Pre-Kindergarten Center.

“Get him and get out of here,” Gabriel said. “We have a legal responsibility to protect our taxpayers.”

“Arrogant. Absolutely arrogant,” high school principal John Sarandrea said after the Knights owner’s departure.

Gailbreath issued a statement after the meeting.

“At the school board meeting tonight, professional decorum was tossed out the window by both sides, and the gloves came off,” Gailbreath wrote in the New Castle News’ local issues forum, located at www.ncnewsonline.com.

“I have attempted to work with the school board on addressing their concerns in a very expedient fashion, but alas, I even let the tension of the moment get to me.”

After the meeting, Cochenour said he e-mailed an apology to Gabriel and the school board. He added that Gailbreath will solely focus on football matters and no longer deal with the school board.

“I would like to apologize to the school board,” he said. “It was totally inappropriate.

“I think there is fault here on both sides.”

Cochenour said the team will be employing an attorney to continue negotiations with the school district.

“For our vision to succeed,” he said, “we need to play at Taggart Stadium.”