LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WHAS11) -- WHAS11 has learned that the Shawnee Academy Athletics Director, Harry Vinegar, has been fired following an investigation into missing money. Results of an open records request revealed the months-long look into allegations against the AD.
During a telephone interview Friday, the now former athletic director denied accusations that he rented out the gym without filing proper paperwork, failed to deposit money into school accounts and endorsed checks made out to other people. While Mr. Vinegar declined our request to record the phone conversation, or answer questions on-camera, another person connected to the case spoke about her dealings with the athletic director and red flags raised during a charity event.
Trena Waddles, a step and dance event organizer, claims she was called shortly before a February event she had scheduled to take place at the school. The call, she says, was from the school principal who was investigating whether Athletic Director, Harry Vinegar, had cut a deal with her to rent out the building but never filed the paperwork with school officials.
She says the event was canceled as the investigation went forward.
We filed an open records request with JCPS that revealed Mr. Vinegar was fired May 24th for insubordination, conduct unbecoming a teacher, immoral character, incompetency, inefficiency and neglect of duty. Most of the district discipline of Vinegar, through the years, involved unexcused absences by the teacher turned AD. In December of last year, flags were raised, allegations that he endorsed checks made to sports officials, rented out school buildings without reporting and there were questions about missing concessions funds.
Trena Waddles says some those concessions funds came from an event in November.
The step dance event was a fundraiser for teams across JCPS to help them make money for uniforms before competition season. Her non-profit gets a cut of the ticket proceeds, the teams share a cut and the concessions, she claims, were run like that at many of the school events, run by the school so the money can stay in the school.
She estimates that would have easily been in the thousands of dollars and a call from the principal revealed that not only was money from the November event not reported and deposited, administrators had no idea her event took place.
“I was shocked because he asked me for my paperwork and my non-profit information to submit to JCPS”, said Waddles. “I had proof that all of my stuff was submitted to him at the adequate time for the event and he never submitted the stuff, my paperwork, to JCPS. So, they never, it was never on the books, on the calendar.”
During our phone conversation, Harry Vinegar called the allegations "false" and the result of a vendetta by a principal out to get him. A JCTA official said Mr. Vinegar is contesting the termination.
JCPS confirmed that their administrative investigation is complete, the criminal investigation is ongoing and when completed will be forwarded to prosecutors.