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Community members criticize coach firing as Aransas Pass ISD hires new athletic director
Summary
Public commenters accused the board of misusing power and protested the firing of Coach Taylor; the board later approved Richard Davis as the district's athletic director following an executive-session personnel decision.
Several community members pressed the Aransas Pass Independent School District board on personnel decisions and athletic leadership during the Jan. meeting, saying recent moves have damaged trust.
John DeBitt, who identified himself as a resident, told the board he believes members have "misuse[d] power" to advance personal issues and warned voters that "there will be seats changing" at the ballot box if the board does not represent community interests. "This community is sick and tired," DeBitt said during public comment.
Ryan Reagan, who gave his name and address in his remarks, directly criticized the board's decision to fire Coach Taylor. Reagan said the program showed improvement each year under the coach and cited comparative records to argue the dismissal was unjustified: "He improved every aspect of this football program," Reagan said, pointing to district and regional results.
After public comment and other business, the board convened a closed executive session under the Texas Open Meetings Act and, upon return to open session, approved a personnel action to appoint Richard Davis as the district's new athletic director. The board made the appointment by voice vote; the transcript records the motion and a second but does not provide a rollcall tally.
Richard Davis, introduced by the board during the appointment, offered brief remarks accepting the role and described his priorities: "We want to bring a family atmosphere to Aransas Pass athletics. We want to be fair, but we want to be tough," he said, adding that he intends to "build on the foundation that's already here."
No formal board discussion of the prior athletic staff termination occurred in open session following the public comments. The transcript records public dissent about personnel decisions and the subsequent appointment but does not include additional public rebuttals or an extended board response to the specific allegations raised during public comment.
The board also thanked community members and recognized that comments at the meeting reflected strong local interest in athletic programs; the appointment of the new athletic director was the last substantive personnel action recorded before the meeting adjourned.
