“Dear Church Community,
As many of you know, I coach the eighth-grade boys’ basketball team. Allegations have been made regarding the way I coach. The Fairborn Schools held an investigation and I was cleared to coach. Once cleared to coach, a few disgruntled parents took their accusations to Children’s Services. As a result, Children’s Services started a second investigation and I am currently on paid administrative leave from coaching eighth-grade boys’ basketball pending the outcome of the investigation.
As a result of that call, our seven foster children were temporarily removed from our home pending the outcome of the investigation. Children’s Services is proceeding exactly as they should by caring for the foster children. The foster kids are all safe with other temporary families while an investigation goes forward.
Ali, myself, and our three biological children are safe at home and are cooperating fully with the investigation. We expect to be quickly cleared of the allegations and pray that our foster children will once again be placed back with us.
At this time, we ask for your prayers for our family as it is extremely painful not to be able to care for ALL our children. We ask that you pray for the foster children that the transition time will be short and be used by God as a way to bring us closer together. Finally, we ask that you join us in praying for those bringing the allegations that they too can experience God’s peace and grace.
If you have questions or concerns, I am willing to discuss them with you.
Thank you all for your prayers, concerns, and encouragement.
God is faithful.”
EARLIER REPORT
A Fairborn middle school basketball coach and local pastor has been placed on paid administrative leave by the school district after complaints were lodged against him by a parent, according to Fairborn City Schools superintendent Mark North.
North would not go into significant detail about the complaint against Aaron Chivington, who coaches Fairborn Baker Middle School’s eighth-grade boys basketball team and is the lead pastor of Fairborn United Methodist Church.
“A parent contacted the central office during Christmas break and shared a complaint regarding statements made after a game,” North said. “My understanding of the initial complaint … is that it was a parent communicating various concerns regarding Coach (Aaron) Chivington.”
Aaron Chivington’s brother, Nathan Chivington, coaches Fairborn’s high school basketball team and is not connected to this case.
Aaron Chivington could not immediately be reached for comment Friday. He posted on his Twitter account Thursday, “Once again friends. We are asking for prayers. Thank you”. Representatives of Fairborn United Methodist Church did not immediately return messages seeking comment.
Because of the nature of the complaint, North said Fairborn City Schools contacted Greene County Children Services “as we’re required to by law,” and the school district also began its own investigation, talking to students and parents.
“Children Services has sent us two communications — the first was that ‘an assessment investigation will not be completed at this time,’ ” North said. As a result, Chivington was still in his role as coach for the team’s first game back from Christmas break, Wednesday night at Piqua.
“But we’ve since received a follow-up communication that (Children Services) would be investigating allegations,” North said.
The district has now placed Chivington on paid administrative leave as the investigation continues, which North called “standard procedure.” North said there has been no official reprimand or discipline at this time, as the investigation is ongoing. One of the two seventh-grade coaches has temporarily taken over the eighth-grade coaching duties.
Officials at Greene County Children Services and Fairborn Police did not immediately return messages seeking comment Friday.
Aaron Chivington was a star on the 1996 state champion Miami East High School basketball team.
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