Parents and athletes press council over termination of Special Olympics coach; council moves to executive session

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 personnel decisions. Family members at the podium recounted how the program changed their children’s lives and asked the council to intervene. A number of speakers referenced communications with city administrators and said they were dissatisfied with explanations that the matter was a personnel issue.

Council response and executive session After public comment stretched through multiple speakers, several council members said they wanted prompt answers and asked for a meeting with the city manager and staff. Council member Kelly asked that the city convene an executive session with Woodson and his representatives, but corporation counsel advised against an executive session that included an outside party, saying that could waive confidentiality norms and set a difficult precedent. Council members discussed timing and the council’s oversight role; several asked for written materials and legal review.

At the end of the evening the council voted unanimously to go into executive session to discuss matters related to personnel and litigation. The motion, which cited the Open Meetings Act exceptions for personnel and potential litigation, carried 8–0.

Why this matters The Special Olympics program serves athletes with disabilities and several parents told the council the termination has removed coaches and sports they said were vital to participants’ social and physical development. The case raised immediate questions for the council about the city manager’s handling of personnel matters, the transparency of staff processes, and how the city supports programs serving vulnerable residents.

Next steps Council members asked for documents and for the city manager to provide a fuller briefing at a forthcoming executive session; corporation counsel will advise the council about what can be discussed in public and what must remain privileged. The council did not take public action on personnel at the meeting; executive session votes and any follow‑up will be reported in minutes as allowed by law.

Ending Families left the meeting saying they would continue to press the council for answers and for a restoration of programming. The council set executive session to review the matter behind closed doors and directed staff and counsel to return with additional material.