Board member calls investigation into O’Nan ‘closely guarded’ matter

A Beaufort County School Board member said the district’s investigation of Hilton Head Island High School Principal Amanda O’Nan is a “closely guarded” matter.

Board member JoAnn Orischak could not confirm whether O’Nan or the investigation were discussed during Tuesday night’s executive session, but she did say Superintendent Jeff Moss and his staff are maintaining there is “no evidence of wrongdoing.”

“They’re maintaining there is no record of anything,” Orischak, whose district is home to O’Nan’s school, said after Tuesday’s meeting. “There’s no key card log, no surveillance — nothing.”

“There has been no indication by the superintendent or his staff that Ms. O’Nan violated any administrative regulations.”

On Monday, district spokesman Jim Foster said the district’s investigation was done “long before” Sunday’s reporting of the claims in a Sheriff’s Office investigative report, but he would not answer questions about the complaints it had received, when it received them or any specifics about the investigation or how it was conducted.

The issue arose after an internal investigation into misconduct claims against a Beaufort County sheriff’s deputy included allegations that the deputy was having an affair with Amanda O’Nan and would meet on multiple occasions late at night with her inside Hilton Head Island High School. The claims were made by O’Nan’s husband, Chris. Kimberly Smith, attorney for Amanda O’Nan, has said the claims “remain unfounded and are based on slanderous and malicious acts and accusations of a scorned husband.”

Board chairwoman Mary Cordray did not respond to a voicemail and text message left for her after Tuesday night’s meeting.

Orischak said she has asked Moss about the specifics of the investigation, including what evidence has been reviewed.

But she doesn’t see the matter going any further.

“As far as what I’ve heard, from district to leadership, from what I’m reading in the newspaper ... I don’t see it going anywhere,” she said, when asked about the board’s next steps.

Board member David Striebinger confirmed the district had investigated O’Nan and found no evidence of wrongdoing.

“I think it’s done for us,” Striebinger said. “Unless something new surfaces. This is not a matter for us to pursue. It’s just an acrimonious divorce.”

This story was originally published August 16, 2016 at 9:03 PM with the headline "Board member calls investigation into O’Nan ‘closely guarded’ matter."