In keeping with the ending in this post, I considered what image could possibly represent the surreal nature of being in a community that for so long has revered athletics over academics, yet would knowingly spend ~$10 million on a new gym that floods its football stadium where it just spent ~$4 million on upgrades. Bing's new AI image generator, DALL E 3, created this image for me. I think it qualifies as a representation for how truly bizarre all this is. Conner oversaw the entire bond project, start to finish, that built City Gym and the football field upgrades.
Updates: This page is being updated. Go here for more. The most recent update was on January 27, 2024.
I have asked Superintendent Moore whether Jacob Conner has left the position of Athletic Director at Irion County ISD. Her response was,
"Due to an ongoing investigation, I cannot comment. Jacob Conner will not be coaching/teaching at Irion County ISD this spring semester."
Conner is still listed on the school website as the AD, so I won't speculate as to his official legal status. (He is under contract.) Coach John Morrow was listed as the interim AD on the Booster Club agenda for its January 3, 2024 meeting, which I attended, and he was present in that capacity. I have also seen that he was listed as interim on the the Booster Club agenda for its December 6, 2023 meeting, thus perhaps explaining the cryptic comments made by the school's Counselor at the December Board meeting.
For more on Conner, search for "Conner" in the search bar at the top of the page.
Updates: 1. On January 26, 2024 I received a copy of the "Voluntary Separation Agreement and Release of Claims" between Jacob Conner and ICISD pursuant to my public information act request. I am currently reviewing that document, and I am waiting on other documents that I have requested. I have not made a determination at this time whether to post any of the documents on this site. Also, the ICISD website has removed his name from its website. The separation agreement, however, makes his resignation effective June 30, 2024.
2. January 7, 2024. Conner during his tenure also oversaw the downsizing of the football program from 11 man to 6 man football. This necessitated a complete downsizing of the football field. It has long been my contention that there never was a clamoring for a third basketball gym by our community. Rather, the first order of business by the Athletic Department back then was to resize the football field, and that is what initiated the call for the 2019 bonds. The need for a third basketball gym (for this 1A school that was smaller than when I left it 40+ years earlier when it had only 1 gym!) was entirely manufactured internally by ICISD administrators. In recognition of this football first approach, I recently added some recommended listening to my Pick of the Month, Football's Young Victims, that addresses what is known now about CTE and young athletes. Our priorities are in the wrong place. And remember, not a single classroom was built with any of the 2019 bond funds.
Copyright 2024 G Noelke