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Parents and athletes press council over termination of Special Olympics coach; council moves to executive session
Summary
Dozens of speakers urged the Evanston City Council to reinstate Leonard Woodson, the longtime Special Olympics coach whose termination prompted parents and athletes to say programming has been curtailed. The council voted unanimously to go into executive session to discuss personnel and potential litigation after public comment.
Many families and athletes filled the microphone at the Aug. 4 special meeting of the Evanston City Council to urge reinstatement of Leonard Woodson, the longtime leader of Evanston Special Olympics whose termination has prompted public outcry.
Speakers described Woodson as the driving force behind Evanston’s Special Olympics program for decades, citing athletes’ improved skills, state competition participation and community partnerships with Northwestern volunteer coaches. Multiple parents, athletes and community members called on the city to restore the program elements they said were canceled after Woodson’s departure.
Several speakers said programs for swimming and powerlifting had been canceled and asked the council and city manager to revisit…
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