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Parents and coach press board after middle-school wrestling coach placed on leave; board votes to take no action on related executive-session item
Summary
Multiple parents and students urged the board to reinstate Coach Thomas Sevilla, saying the program and athletes were harmed by his placement on leave and by limited facility access during medical incidents. The board later voted to take no action on executive-session item 3c relating to the matter.
Several parents, students and Coach Thomas Sevilla urged the School District 5 board on Jan. 13 to reverse an administrative leave decision and restore the middle-school wrestling program’s coach ahead of upcoming sectionals and state competition. Speakers described the coach as a mentor and an essential presence for students, and raised concerns about facility access during medical incidents.
"Coach Tommy and his family ... have been a complete role model, mentor, and pillar of strength and hope for my kids," parent Shaelyn Bridal told trustees. Grace Sevilla, the coach's daughter, said the program was being treated differently from football and called the actions "biased and unfair." Parent Melody Sabia said she believes a complaint she or her husband filed as parents led to punitive actions against the program and recounted an incident in which a student who needed medical attention could not access the gym because the coach lacked a key. Coach Thomas Sevilla, who said he filled an emergency coaching role last year when no other adult was available, told the board he and the team had prepared for upcoming competitions but were now without a coach.
Later in the meeting the board moved and voted to take no action on executive-session item 3c in relation to Exhibit C; the motion passed with 4 in favor, 2 opposed and 1 abstention. The board did not provide public details about the executive-session discussion.
Board members and the superintendent heard pleas for reinstatement and staff support; the record shows several public commenters asked the board to consider program continuity for student athletes. The board also approved selected employment items (motion passed 7 to 0) and rescinded a prior motion excluding attachments from the Nov. 18, 2024 minutes (motion passed 5–1–1), but no public vote directly reinstated or removed the coach during the public meeting portion.
