|
|
Pete McMackin said it's not right that a volleyball coach was told to resign because some of the senior players and their parents felt the senior students should have more playing time.
McMackin said his daughter and all of the other players were provided with a copy of the rules saying that not all players would be given equal playing time. The players who gave the team the best chance at winning would be used and that decision would be left up to the coach.
Players were also told in those rules that if they had a complaint they should talk to the coach at least twice about it. If they are still not satisfied than the parents should schedule a meeting with her.
During Monday's St. Marys Area School Board meeting, McMackin compared the situation to a witch hunt. It began with seniors upset because they didn't feel they were getting enough playing time and then later it went to someone claiming the coach had grabbed a player's arm, he said.
It's not unusual for a coach to take a players arm to move them, he said, it happens in all sports.
McMackin said the players took their complaints to their parents, who took them to Athletic Director Terry Straub. When the coach arrived at practice on Friday, the seven senior players walked out.
The coach, Fawn McMackin, said she would not take those players, who missed that practice, to the county tournament on Saturday because they missed the practice, Pete McMackin said. She was told by the athletic director to take the seniors and when she refused, Straub took them himself, McMackin said.
McMackin said the coach was told by the superintendent Monday to resign.
It wasn't fair that only the seven players complaining were interviewed about the situation when there are 28 girls on the team, he said.
McMackin presumed the issue was discussed by the board in the 50-minute closed session held at the beginning of the meeting. The school board heard only one side of the story since Straub was present and asked to be at the closed session and the coach was not, he said.
McMackin said if his daughter suffers any repercussions as a result of his comments, the issue would be taken outside of the school's walls.
The board did not comment on McMackin's remarks.
The board approved a resolution expressing its concerns and position when it comes to the rezoning of the South St. Marys Street Elementary School area from residential to commercial. Board members Bob Lucchini and John Mulcahey were not present for the vote.
The resolution says the board's position is, "the proposed zoning to commercial of the area surrounding the SSMSES will negatively impact the health and safety of the young children who attend the SSMSES and utilize both Luhr Park and Berwind Park. "
The district was also contacted by a company interested in drilling on its land. The solicitor was contacted and said if the district does choose to enter into a drilling lease, the issue would have to be bid out because it is a school entity.
The low bid contract for floor tile at Bennetts Valley Elementary School for $25,245 from NAP Interiors, inc. was rejected by the board because it didn't meet all the necessary requirements. The second lowest bid from M.P. Schaut Building Contractors for $52,000 was approved.
A second closed session was held following the meeting.
In other school news:
* Adam Wolfel, a senior, will build a western style entrance way for the outdoor classroom as his Eagle Scout project.
* The board approved a memorandum of understanding with the St. Marys police on the procedure for responding to incidents at the school. The agreement is reviewed and signed every two years.
* The district 's strategic plan was approved by the board July 22 and submitted to the Pennsylvania Department of Education. The department approved the plan.
* A transportation contract with Joseph Muccio for the 2008-09 school year to provide transportation to the Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children and Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf at a rate of $398 a trip was approved.
* The board approved a subcontract transportation agreement for the 2008-09 school year with the Ridgway Area School District to share transportation to the school for the blind and deaf at a rate of $99.50 a trip.
* Bus stops in St. Marys have been added at 253 S. Paul Road, 927 Fern Road, the S. Ridge Road Extension/Liberty Road intersection, Delaum Road/West Creek Road intersection, 262 W. Creek Road, St. Marys, 133 Dagus Mines Road, St. Marys, 128 Lecker Road, St. Marys, and the Trout Run/E. Eschbach Road, St. Marys. In Kersey they have been added to the Country Lane/Old Kersey Road intersection, the Lipsey Lane/Lovers Lane intersection, 133 Kallas Road, 461 Toby Road, 255 Old Kersey Road and 475 Main St. In Weedville, they have been added to 3583 River Road, Caledonia Road/River Road intersection and1319 Spring Run Road, Weedville.
* Bus stops in St. Marys have been changed: 1187 E. Eschbach Road will move to 1193 E. Eschbach Road, 994 Windfall Road will move to 980 Windfall Road, 725 Washington St. will move to 719 Washington St., 1084 S. Michael Road will move to 1090 S. Michael Road, 1550 Bucktail Road will move to 1547 Bucktail Road and the stop at the Woodsmoke Road/Bucktail Road intersection will move to 1708 Bucktail Road.
