WARE SHOALS — The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division has opened its own investigation of Ware Shoals School District 51's handling of an alcohol-fueled sex scandal involving two Ware Shoals High School varsity cheerleaders and their former coach, Jill Moore.

The Greenwood County Sheriff's Office said many witnesses came forward during its investigation into the actions of suspended WSHS Principal Jane Blackwell. Blackwell was arrested on an obstruction of justice charge in late January.Witnesses reported potential wrongdoing on the part of District 51 staff and/or their representatives, the sheriff's office reported.

Chief Deputy Mike Frederick said that, because of the school district's status as a regional government that encompasses three counties, and to avoid any appearance of conflict with the sheriff's office existing investigation of Blackwell, Sheriff Dan Wideman asked SLED to review the information from those witnesses and open an investigation if the agency saw fit.

Frederick said SLED's investigation in Ware Shoals is separate from the sheriff's office investigation into Blackwell, which was officially closed Tuesday.

Blackwell will get a chance to explain to the District 51 school board — and Ware Shoals residents — why she should be able to keep her job at the school. A public hearing is set for 9 a.m. Friday at the Ware Shoals High auditorium and reportedly will last for several hours.

Earlier this week, Davis said cameras — particularly flash photography — would be a distraction at what he said will be a “somber hearing.” Davis said cameras in the proceeding would foster a “circus-like” atmosphere.

Davis told the newspaper Wednesday that Blackwell had agreed to a public meeting, provided no cameras were allowed. He likened the school board chairman's position to that of a courtroom judge, saying that against the backdrop of the criminal charges pending against Blackwell, the circumstances of this proceeding are different from regular school meetings.

Davis also revised his statements from earlier this week, saying that he agreed with Bender that no one could, in fact, be prevented from bringing photographic and recording devices into the school auditorium for the hearing. However, he cautioned that if someone — whether a member of the media or the public — did take pictures, Blackwell could stop the proceedings and demand to have a closed meeting with the board.

He further indicated that if this newspaper, for example, brought and used a camera, resulting in the hearing moving into a private setting at Blackwell's request, the newspaper would be to blame for the public's inability to witness the proceedings.

“The newspaper would share no blame if the principal exercised her right to have a closed hearing. That choice is entirely the principal's. The district can't violate the law in hopes that the principal will have an open hearing,” Bender wrote in an e-mail.

Bender suggests that school officials consider limiting the number of people taking pictures because of their concern that there might be too many people attempting to take photos.

The Index-Journal attempted late Wednesday to reach Billy Garrett, Blackwell's attorney, to discuss the feasibility of providing a media photographer.

“Mrs. Blackwell requested a public meeting before the school board,” executive editor Richard Whiting said. “She had the option of meeting in a closed session, as often is the case regarding personnel matters; however, she chose to have this in a very public way. Cameras are allowed in meetings of public bodies, including school boards. This situation is really no different than that.

“We can concede that it would be a disruption to have a number of people flashing cameras during the proceedings, but that does not preclude the media from carrying out its duty to properly record this event for the public that cannot attend,” Whiting said.

“We hope we can work out a compromise before tomorrow's meeting, one that will maintain the meeting's decorum while upholding the public's first amendment rights,” he said.

Blackwell is accused of withholding information from the sheriff's office during the investigation of Moore. Moore is accused of providing alcohol for a pair of then-16-year-old WSHS cheerleaders and putting them in an “incredibly inappropriate situation” concerning a sexual relationship Moore was having with a National Guardsman.

According to reports released by the sheriff's office Tuesday, Moore also has admitted to investigators that she attended the Nov. 25 South Carolina-Clemson game with a group of students, got drunk at the game and came home with a 19-year-old male student.

bMoore told investigators this past Sunday — in a conversation that was videotaped — that she went to Blackwell's house on Nov. 29 and told Blackwell about the trip to the Clemson game and getting drunk with the students. Moore said Ware Shoals High employee Betty House was at Blackwell's home that day and could confirm the meeting.

According to the sheriff's office, on the day that Blackwell was arrested, Maj. John Murray — who was wearing a concealed recording device — asked Blackwell if she knew about Moore's actions. Blackwell reportedly denied anyone had ever mentioned Moore's actions to her.

The recording of Blackwell's Jan. 22 conversation and Sunday's videotaped interview with Moore have been been placed into evidence by the sheriff's office.

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