BOE meeting 4/27 - more issues with CHS Athletics
I heard testimony regarding the baseball investigation, bullying, etc. It was quite emotional and heartwrenching to hear the words of young people. I think last month, most of the baseball testimony took place. I also heard people speak about the softball coach. Finally, a group of student athletes, parents and coaches gave testimony on a lacrosse coach who was fired with no investigation/due process. All spoke eloquently in support of him and demanded the matter be evaluated/investigated. It was after 11pm. Wow.
I understand that issues arise in every school/school system. How they are handled is key. Based on the number of issues centered around athletics/teams being escalated to the board, discussed publicly, festering, etc, I'd say we have an issue with CHS athletic leadership.
Can someone post the footage of the meeting? I believe it was recorded.
During the public speaks, there seemed to be three issues related to CHS athletics:
1. Softball coach/district teacher (Science teacher at SOMS??) who is not coaching softball this year. The parents seemed to be asking the board why was the coach removed and to have him reinstated.
2. Baseball coach - an update on the issues that were brought to the February BOE meeting. A couple of parents stated that since the Feb BOE meeting, the bullying has gotten worse. Especially for the children of the more vocal parents who have made complaints about the coach.
3. Lacrosse coach - complaint was that the coach was fired without due process. Teachers, parents and students stated he was a positive impact on the lacrosse team and coach has the right to due process.
ETA - cross posted with Deep Breaths. I don't know if the district is turning a blind eye to these issues or if parents are not following the right channel to get the district to address these issues. Sometimes there are "rules" for how parents can make an official complaint with the district and the people in the know don't always share that information.
It's not easy for the BOE to sort through all this stuff because there are generally parents on both sides. But the administration has mishandled CHS athletics on many levels.
My impression is that Principal Aaron would proactively handle any leadership issues within the Athletic Dept.
Perhaps this has been treated as an internal matter so far. Maybe better communication with the public would help (as always).
I was at the meeting last night (my first BOE meeting ever!) and I spoke on behalf of Nate Hill, the freshman lacrosse coach who was abruptly let go. Coach Hill coached one of my boys last year and started to coach the second one this year. He's a spectacular guy, a great role model, and an asset to the lacrosse program. The boys look up to him and respect him.
Last night, about 5 lacrosse boys, a teacher, and three parents also spoke on behalf of Nate. We wanted the BOE to know who he is and what has happened. We do not expect to be privy to personnel matters of course, but we do expect that allegations/issues be investigated thoroughly and fairly. We rely on procedure and due process and operate under the idea that we are all held to the same high standards. Most importantly, we expect that a positive example will be set for our kids.
Soccer program a mess as well. When my son in JV coach cancelled practices at least one to three times per week, was most non-motivating guy around. Got a great Varsity coach that year, but he didn't come back the next year-- don't know if he wasn't asked back or if he quit. New Varsity coach very committed, but kids dislike him, also not motivating. There are a lot of great trainers out there. Club coaches and trainers all work for area high schools. For some reason, we rarely hire any of them.
Have also heard of a lot of problems with lacrosse program over past few years. Heard that amazing coaches of summer teams, etc. can't get jobs at Columbia. Getting rid of Nate Hill, who at least my son loved and was even willing to get up for 6:30 a.m practices for, was stupid, unless a lot more happened behind the scenes than we know about.
I think the district is hiding in their head in the sand, by not dealing with the Athletic Director. It's just going to get worse and worse. Does he have tenure yet as AD? Can he just be fired?
You have identified the right issue. I do not believe the AD position comes with tenure.
Sports is supposed to be fun. It's an outlet for many kids. Christ, we all need excercise. Sure, for some it's a vehicle that takes them to the next level and potentially affords them a different education, but for most it's extracurricular
Why is there so much drama in our high school sports? All these horrible stories and upset parents/athletes can't mean anything positive. It signifies a serious issue. Why is there an abundance of horrific stories on various teams? Parents and students alike (current and former) seem to say similar things. Perhaps it's time for a review of the leadership and for our district to make some big changes.
yahooyahoo said:
My impression is that Principal Aaron would proactively handle any leadership issues within the Athletic Dept.
Perhaps this has been treated as an internal matter so far. Maybe better communication with the public would help (as always).
If the administration has specific reasons for their actions with regard to a coach and those reasons are in the form of complaints that have ended up in the personnel file of the coach, you can be sure that we will never hear about it.
What I do know is that complaints about coaches need to be investigated promptly by the district anti-bullying representative, otherwise, the trail grows cold and people's recollection of events becomes blurry.
Most of the comments made by parents in the BOE meetings seem to be of the he said-she said variety. Basically, if a kid is having a great time, the parent thinks the coach is fine and vice versa. This is not the same as a proper investigation of specific complaint.
I commend current athletes who had the courage to speak up in the face of almost certain retribution. These are the heroes we should be celebrating.
Graf said:
yahooyahoo said:
My impression is that Principal Aaron would proactively handle any leadership issues within the Athletic Dept.
Perhaps this has been treated as an internal matter so far. Maybe better communication with the public would help (as always).
If the administration has specific reasons for their actions with regard to a coach and those reasons are in the form of complaints that have ended up in the personnel file of the coach, you can be sure that we will never hear about it.
I get privacy concerns--I do--but if the accusations involve public bullying against HS students, which they do, is it fair that the adjudication is handled privately?
Roland said:
Graf said:
yahooyahoo said:
My impression is that Principal Aaron would proactively handle any leadership issues within the Athletic Dept.
Perhaps this has been treated as an internal matter so far. Maybe better communication with the public would help (as always).
If the administration has specific reasons for their actions with regard to a coach and those reasons are in the form of complaints that have ended up in the personnel file of the coach, you can be sure that we will never hear about it.
I get privacy concerns--I do--but if the accusations involve public bullying against HS students, which they do, is it fair that the adjudication is handled privately?
I would say that coaching should be defined as a privilege with no job protections and no expectation of privacy. Parental complaints should be investigated promptly and results should be aired publicly.
I would also say that when I have to deal with high school sports, if ever, and I have a problem with a coach. I will start with a lawyer and take it from there. That is what I have learned from the discussions on this board.
Graf said:
I would say that coaching should be defined as a privilege with no job protections and no expectation of privacy. Parental complaints should be investigated promptly and results should be aired publicly.
I would also say that when I have to deal with high school sports, if ever, and I have a problem with a coach. I will start with a lawyer and take it from there. That is what I have learned from the discussions on this board.
So no job protection, no privacy, a public airing of all complaints no matter how groundless and the specter of parents lawyering up for any disagreement, which seemingly includes "my kid didn't get to pitch" type complaints. For a position that pays about $5,000 before taxes. Sounds like a real attractive job that should attract numerous high-caliber candidates.
I don't know what happened in any of these situations. Two of them involve families upset because coaches were let go. The other involves a current coach that some families want fired. Because of privacy protections, I'm not sure of the administration's side, and there's not much reason for families satisfied with the status quo to speak up.
Maybe the administration is wrong in all three cases, and perhaps changes should be made, but coaches and athletic directors deserve the same respect and protection that any other employees have.
My comment about "better communication" was not related to private personnel matters but just keeping parents and students informed about coaching changes, the plan for athletics going forward, an overall vision/strategy for athletics, etc. When coaches come and go with no communication from the school, it undermines everyone's enthusiasm.
chalmers said:
Graf said:
I would say that coaching should be defined as a privilege with no job protections and no expectation of privacy. Parental complaints should be investigated promptly and results should be aired publicly.
I would also say that when I have to deal with high school sports, if ever, and I have a problem with a coach. I will start with a lawyer and take it from there. That is what I have learned from the discussions on this board.
So no job protection, no privacy, a public airing of all complaints no matter how groundless and the specter of parents lawyering up for any disagreement, which seemingly includes "my kid didn't get to pitch" type complaints. For a position that pays about $5,000 before taxes. Sounds like a real attractive job that should attract numerous high-caliber candidates.
I don't know what happened in any of these situations. Two of them involve families upset because coaches were let go. The other involves a current coach that some families want fired. Because of privacy protections, I'm not sure of the administration's side, and there's not much reason for families satisfied with the status quo to speak up.
Maybe the administration is wrong in all three cases, and perhaps changes should be made, but coaches and athletic directors deserve the same respect and protection that any other employees have.
I was thinking this would be more like police cameras in the sense the inappropriate behavior on both sides can be revealed. If the finding of a complaint is essentially that little Johnny didn't get to play, parents would think twice about complaining that their kid isn't getting enough playing time.
Graf said:I was thinking this would be more like police cameras in the sense the inappropriate behavior on both sides can be revealed. If the finding of a complaint is essentially that little Johnny didn't get to play, parents would think twice about complaining that their kid isn't getting enough playing time.
Yes, teachers and coaches should wear body cameras while at work. Clearly, that's the answer.
I have been watching this chatter for months. I have seen my son's situation referenced many times - I don't know who has been posting on his behalf but I greatly appreciate the kind words and the strong support.
I was at the BOE meeting - my first one ever and I spoke on behalf of my son in regards to the Baseball Program. It was the hardest thing I have ever done. I would greatly appreciate the respect of this board not to minimize the experiences that some of the kids have faced. I am not so emotionally unstable as to think that playing time "boo hoo, my kid did not pitch, as stated by Chalmers" is a reason for me to spend almost 5 hours in a board meeting-or numerous hours with the administration, coaches and my son - trying to get to a "good place". The parents involved (and I can only speak for the baseball team as I would not comment on the other sports since I do not have any inside knowledge) have filed all the state mandated paperwork, they have followed the appropriate steps which includes speaking at the BOE meeting. The BOE does not hire and fire per se, but they do approve these types of decisions. I would suggest that those of you with no knowledge on the process do the appropriate research before making broad sweeping statements about what is being done and how it is being done.
One last thought...every child is going to have a different experience with a teacher, coach, mentor etc. If only one child comes forward and says that they were bullied, felt isolated, was the victim of retribution - we owe it to him/her to take it seriously and not just dismiss it assuming that the kid or family is whiny or entitled. If 10 kids come forward and say the same - maybe we should not just assume that everyone is being treated fairly. If it was your kid, and it was happening in the classroom, I am sure you would want to get it properly investigated. I cannot understand where the total disrespect for these kids and families are coming from. Quite frankly it is such a disappointment in a tightknit community that is so family oriented.
If you go to the BOE website you can see the dates and times that everything is rebroadcast. I do not believe that the athletic department issues started until well after 10:30pm. The HIB report was given at about 1am.
WendyBlaney, I did not say anything about the current allegations against the baseball coach or the two coaches whom some people feel were wrongly fired. I specifically said, "I don't know what happened in any of these situations."
When I made the reference to trivial "my kid didn't get to pitch" type complaints, I was talking about what must be considered when developing a general framework for coaching conduct. I know your allegations are much more serious than that, but before we pillory coaches officially and publicly, I think coaches are entitled to some process that determines whether a complaint is serious and well-grounded or someone upset over standard coach decision-making.
I appreciate your clarification. I would suggest though that by the time discussions such as this get so emotionally charged, and the board and attorneys, and the administration is involved-it is way past the point of standard coaching framework. The "hearings" that are occurring are following the appropriate protocol, which is why I suggested that folks do their homework before posting on the process.
chalmers said:
WendyBlaney, I did not say anything about the current allegations against the baseball coach or the two coaches whom some people feel were wrongly fired. I specifically said, "I don't know what happened in any of these situations."
When I made the reference to trivial "my kid didn't get to pitch" type complaints, I was talking about what must be considered when developing a general framework for coaching conduct. I know your allegations are much more serious than that, but before we pillory coaches officially and publicly, I think coaches are entitled to some process that determines whether a complaint is serious and well-grounded or someone upset over standard coach decision-making.
callista said:
It seems to me that Ms. Aaron should be seriously looking into the AD. What other signs of dysfunction does she need before she does that? Does she need a petition?
Exactly. When numerous issues (and similar ones at that) are evident in one department/group, you have to have to consider that the tone/attitude at the top may need some correction.
chalmers said:
WendyBlaney, I did not say anything about the current allegations against the baseball coach or the two coaches whom some people feel were wrongly fired. I specifically said, "I don't know what happened in any of these situations."
When I made the reference to trivial "my kid didn't get to pitch" type complaints, I was talking about what must be considered when developing a general framework for coaching conduct. I know your allegations are much more serious than that, but before we pillory coaches officially and publicly, I think coaches are entitled to some process that determines whether a complaint is serious and well-grounded or someone upset over standard coach decision-making.
We are talking about high school sports. I think we are beyond the "my kid didn't play" BS that potentially goes on with the younger set.
callista said:
It seems to me that Ms. Aaron should be seriously looking into the AD. What other signs of dysfunction does she need before she does that? Does she need a petition?
Is the AD directly supervised by the CHS principal? In a lot of places, it's a district-level position, and thus wouldn't be under Ms. Aaron's direct control. But I'm not sure what the case is here.
mammabear said:
We are talking about high school sports. I think we are beyond the "my kid didn't play" BS that potentially goes on with the younger set.
I'm not sure. Again, I'm not saying it's happening here. However, with the cost of college, the possibility of scholarships and the amount of money/time invested by families by the time their young athlete reaches high school, I think there might be just as much of that with older kids. It's gone on a while, long enough for our governor's parents to threaten litigation when a better catcher moved into Livingston High.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/chris-christie-less-keen-to-play-hardball-as-a-young-man/2014/02/01/420cee3a-89c9-11e3-916e-e01534b1e132_story.html
Bullies, almost by definition, use the divide and conquer strategy very effectively. So, a bully coach might curry favor with 90% of the kids/parents and reserve his bullying for the remainder. That is why supportive testimony rings hollow to me. If a kid was bullied or the coach permits a bullying culture on his team, the complaints need to be investigated and the coach needs to reform his ways or be fired.
Graf said:
With some exceptions high school sports are increasingly irrelevant as far as scholarships are concerned. If you are a football player and really want to be noticed, you play for one of the Catholic schools. For soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse, club play is critical. And in many cases, instead of betting on a scholarship, money spent on private lessons would be better invested in a 529.
I think that's all true, though there still is litigation against high schools when kids don't make teams based on lost scholarship money, etc. You also raise a good point about how high-level youth sports have changed. For many children, club teams, private lessons and the like render high-school sports only one small facet of a family's athletic commitment. This should be taken into account as the district clarifies its approach to athletics going forward. There might also be an equity consideration for those whose families can't afford the extra tutoring.
The baseball coaches have received plenty of due process here. That is SO not the issue. The aggrieved parents and players, on the other hand, have been shammed.
Roland said:
The baseball coaches have received plenty of due process here. That is SO not the issue. The aggrieved parents and players, on the other hand, have been shammed.
Pretty much. Bully coaches survive based on a divide and conquer strategy. Groom 90% and you can do what you want to the other 10% because the 90% will sing your praises.
weirdbeard said:
callista said:
It seems to me that Ms. Aaron should be seriously looking into the AD. What other signs of dysfunction does she need before she does that? Does she need a petition?
Is the AD directly supervised by the CHS principal? In a lot of places, it's a district-level position, and thus wouldn't be under Ms. Aaron's direct control. But I'm not sure what the case is here.
I had the same question.
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I happened to watch last night's BOE meeting and was horrified by some of the testimony regarding athletics at CHS. It seems there are huge issues on various teams, much of which seems to be stem from a total lack of leadship from coaches up to the Athletic Director. Issues arise, yet nothing is done. Where is the leadership?? I hope the board takes this seriously.