By KEVIN CHIRI

Editor and Publisher

LAPLACE – The head boys basketball coach at East St. John High School has requested an employee hearing before the St. John School Board this Thursday night, to discuss allegations that have been made against him involving a female student.

Charles Julian, head coach for the Wildcat team since 2002, has asked for the hearing before the board tonight due to &#8220inappropriate statements” he allegedly made to a female student.

Julian could face termination if the allegations are deemed true by the board.

Julian has been perhaps the most successful boys basketball coach in school history in his short five year term at the helm of the Wildcat team.

He was hired in 2002 and since then, guided East St. John to the first district championship in the schools long history, which they won this past season.

Also in 2004, he led the team to the Top 28 tournament for the first time in school history.

However in recent weeks, rumors began to circulate about allegations made by a female student against Julian, which then culminated with the request for the employee hearing.

According to school system rules, any employee may request a hearing, which Julian has done for the meeting on Thursday. Julian will also decide whether he wants the hearing in public, or in executive session.

No members of the St. John school system would comment on the situation, citing it as a personnel matter, and Julian was not available for comment either.

School Board members will hear about the allegations on Thursday, and then can decide to take no action, or possibly to terminate Julian if they deem it appropriate.

Since Julian is not certified, he is not a tenured teacher and therefore does not have protection under those laws. Had he been tenured, any hearing or possible termination would have had to go through a lengthy process. However since he is not tenured, the School Board could terminate him immediately on Thursday should they believe it is warranted.

Julian had never coached on the high school or junior level before getting the job at East St. John High School.

He was a highly successful Biddy League coach who was hired in 2002, and has taken the East St. John program to new heights in his short tenure there.

School Superintendent Michael Coburn, although not able to comment on Julian’s hearing, said that Julian is still working as a teacher and still officially the head boys basketball coach at the school at this time.