Parents, coaches urge Hazleton Area SD to lift ban on parents at youth basketball games
Summary
Multiple parents and coaches asked the Hazleton Area School District Board to reverse a district decision barring parents and siblings from attending West Hazleton Youth Basketball League games. District leaders said the ban responds to safety concerns and limited security staffing and will be reevaluated at season's end.
Several parents, coaches and community members urged the Hazleton Area School District Board of Directors to reverse a district decision that temporarily prohibits parents and siblings from attending West Hazleton Youth Basketball League games.
The appeals came during the public-comment portion of the board meeting. Kristen Michalak, a junior-division coach with the West Hazleton Youth Basketball League, told the board the ban has sharply reduced participation and called the policy punitive to young players: “It has really impacted the amount of players that we have… I have 270 other parents and siblings and friends and family members that would really like to see their kids play.”
Superintendent (name not specified) told the board the district weighed the decision after an incident last year and a later disturbance this season. The superintendent said an employee remains out on disability because of the earlier incident and that the more recent event “tipped the table.” To preserve the program this season, the district temporarily barred parents and siblings from attending games and practices; the superintendent said the district will “reevaluate that at the end of this season.”
Parents described immediate effects. Jose Ortiz said his son—new to the league—was upset and considering quitting because family cannot attend: “My kid wants to quit… He was crying. He got 4 kids that wanna quit.” Anna Rodriguez, who said she helped circulate an online petition, told the board the penalty harms children who were not involved in prior incidents: “Why should we be punished for other people's wrong actions? … Our kids thrive while they are here to cheer them on.” John Aviles, another parent, questioned whether the district’s security response at the incident met expectations and suggested clearer contract terms requiring additional security staffing.
A district official explained the rental arrangement with the league and said the league president, Mrs. Kranger, had previously asked the district to limit security for financial reasons; that request reduced on-site security to a single guard for some events. The official said the district had considered adding two or three security officers for high-risk games but had minimized staffing after the league’s request to reduce costs.
Board members and staff said the ban was narrowly targeted to allow games to continue this season while protecting students and staff. The district described the facilities' rental status and the need to balance safety and program continuity.
The superintendent and staff said they want parents and families welcomed back and that the district will reassess the policy at the end of the current season to determine whether parents and siblings can be readmitted.
Copies of the petition and multiple public statements were provided to the board during the meeting; speakers asked the board to consider alternatives that would keep children and families engaged while addressing security concerns.
