Quincy Public Schools take action against parent following incident at girls basketball game

QUINCY — Officials with the Quincy School District have taken action against a spectator who was involved in an incident involving a referee during Tuesday night’s girls basketball game between Quincy High School and Quincy Notre Dame.

However, the school district is not saying what that action is. 

Mike Dade was attending the game as he has a daughter on the QHS team. After his daughter was injured on a play in the fourth quarter, Dade expressed his displeasure verbally to one of game’s three referees, Todd Reichert. 

Minutes later, Reichert was standing in front of Dade on the baseline when Dade kicked Reichert in the small of the back, pushing him onto the court. Reichert turned and ejected Dade, who rose from his seat and approached Reichert before officials from both schools intervened. 

The game was carried on the QND Sports YouTube page.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1mJaZVkUG8

Anna Oakley, communication officer with the Quincy School District, issued this statement from Superintendent Todd Pettit on Thursday:

“QPS is aware of an incident at the girls basketball game at QND on Jan. 30 involving a Blue Devil parent and a game official. We are currently reviewing the facts of the incident. It is imperative that our athletes, coaches and referees are safe and free from outside interference. We will take the necessary steps to ensure their safety.”

After school officials conducted their review, Oakley issued this statement on Friday: 

“With the full cooperation of the spectator involved, we have addressed the January 30th incident at the QHS girls basketball game by upholding code the conduct (sic) expected at QHS events. All parties involved have been informed of our plan moving forward. Specific details of actions taken will not be released.” 

A document on the Quincy School District’s website called a “Policy Reference Manual” states the following:

The School District expects mutual respect, civility, and orderly conduct among all people on school property or at a school event. No person on school property or at a school event (including visitors, students, and employees) shall perform any of the following acts:

1. Strike, injure, threaten, harass or intimidate a staff member, Board member, sports official or coach, or any other person.

2. Behave in an unsportsmanlike manner or use vulgar or obscene language.

11. Impede, delay, disrupt or otherwise interfere with any school activity or function

Any person who engages in conduct prohibited by this policy may be ejected from or denied admission to school property in accordance with state law. The person also may be subject to being denied admission to school athletic or extracurricular events for up to one calendar year.

Under the heading, “Procedures to Deny Future Admission to Athletic or Extracurricular School Events,” the document says:

Before any person may be denied admission to athletic or extracurricular school events, the person has a right to a hearing before the Board. The superintendent may refuse the person admission pending such hearing. The superintendent or designee must provide the person with a hearing notice, delivered or sent by certified mail with return receipt requested, at least 10 days before the Board hearing date. The hearing notice must contain:

1. The date, time and place of the Board hearing;

2. A description of the prohibited conduct;

3. The proposed time period that admission to school events will be denied; and

4. Instructions on how to waive a hearing.

The next Quincy School Board meeting is Feb. 28. The last regular season home game for the QHS girls basketball game is Tuesday, Feb. 6 vs. Hannibal and postseason play for girls basketball in Illinois begins the week of Feb. 12.

Dade did not attend the QHS girls game at Rock Island Alleman on Thursday night. The team plays again Saturday at home against East Moline-United Township.

Muddy River News spoke with Dade, and he declined to comment.