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Community speakers urge Santa Rosa City Schools to reinstate coach Allen Petty
Summary
Dozens of alumni, current teachers, veterans and students told the Santa Rosa City Schools Board on Jan. 22 that coach and teacher Allen Petty has been a decades‑long mentor and should be returned to classroom and coaching duties.
Dozens of alumni, current and former students and several colleagues addressed the Santa Rosa City Schools Board of Education on Jan. 22 to urge the district to reinstate teacher and coach Allen Petty at LC Allen High School.
The comments came during the meeting’s closed‑session public comment period. Speakers described Petty as a longtime teacher, coach and mentor whose work, they said, has helped students avoid criminal activity, join the military and attend college.
Ricardo Mora, who identified himself as an LC Allen alumnus, said Petty “didn't just see a student, he saw potential in me.” Dan Bartholomew, an Elsie Allen High School teacher, told trustees: "If your decisions are based on political agendas, if your decisions are based on staff numbers, if your decisions are based on anything but our children in this community, you're making a mistake. Our children need mister Petty. We need mister Petty." Chris Loranger, identifying himself as a U.S. Army chief warrant officer and former student, said, “Allen Petty didn't just teach, he transformed.”
Other speakers recounted similar personal stories: Dennis McCarter said Petty bought cleats so McCarter could join rugby; Joe McDivitt said Petty “single handedly got me into Berkeley.” Several speakers described Petty as a steady influence for students from underserved neighborhoods in Southwest Santa Rosa and asked the board to restore him to the classroom and to coaching duties.
The board did not take action on personnel matters in open session at the Jan. 22 meeting; the meeting later recessed to closed session and trustees reported that “no actions were taken.” The public comments about Petty were recorded under the closed‑session public comment portion of the agenda.
Trustees and district staff did not make public commitments on Petty’s employment status during the session. The board’s agenda did include other items later in the meeting; district staff declined to provide additional personnel details during public comment.
The comment period on closed‑session items was capped at 20 minutes, and supporters of Coach Petty used nearly the full allotment to deliver their remarks. Several speakers requested follow‑up from trustees and asked the board to consider reinstatement at a future public meeting.
