Cheerleader Sex Scandal Meeting Continues

Ware Shoals, SC (TLS). The Ware Shoals School Board continued its meeting today in the library adjacent to Ware Shoals High School in order to finish its business related to the employment status of Principal Jane Blackwell, who has been charged with obstruction in the Jill Moore-Ware Shoals Cheerleader Sex Scandal.

Blackwell, principal at Ware Shoals High, had requested a meeting with the Board to make her case as to why she should be allowed to keep her job as principal.

That meeting was scheduled for last Friday, April 6. The meeting had initially been designated open to the public, and 200 parents and family members took the day off from their jobs in order to hear Blackwell's version of the events surrounding the investigation into former Ware Shoals High School cheerleader coach Jill Moore.

The Board had instructed the media not to roll the TV cameras during the testimony phase of the meeting, due to the sensitive nature of the discussion, which no doubt included several under-age high school students.

However, at last Friday's meeting WSPA-TV Channel 7, a CBS affiliate, refused to turn off its cameras as requested, citing a legal right to telecast a public meeting.

At this point the meeting was brought to a quick and abrupt end that sent 200 disappointed observers back home. At Blackwell's request, the meeting went into Executive Session behind closed doors, meaning that there were to be no observers and no news media.

That closed door meeting went on for 12 hours, and when the Board emerged spokesmen stated that it had not concluded its business and that the meeting would be continued today, April 12, in the library adjacent to the high school.

The meeting today is also a closed door meeting, and thus, the media will not know the nature of the discussion except in general as it pertains to Blackwell keeping her job. The Board stated, however, that no decision on Blackwell's continued employment would be made until the regularly scheduled monthly Board meeting on April 16.

Police officials maintain that Blackwell knew about Jill Moore's activities but withheld evidence from them in their investigation. Blackwell through her attorney maintains that she made no attempt to withhold evidence or to obstruct the investigation in any way.

School Board officials state that a full transcript of Blackwell's testimony on April 6 and April 12 will be made available after the April 16 meeting of the Board.

The Ware Shoals High School Cheerleader Sex Scandal made international news when it was disclosed that former cheerleader coach Jill Moore had given alcohol and cigarettes to students off campus, which she has admitted, and that she allegedly took several cheerleaders with her to meet two National Guardsmen at a local motel for sex--a charge which Moore denies.

The Guardsmen, however, were disciplined by their superiors and reassigned.

Blackwell's role in the scandal revolves around the question of what did she know and when did she know it. The Board is attempting to determine if Blackwell followed proper protocol in investigating Moore and if there was any obstruction. Blackwell is not being investigated for any sexual misconduct.