Parents and program alumni urge board to delay coach Nichols resignation
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Summary
Multiple parents, alumni and program board members told the Lakeville Area Schools board they believe the district's process around Coach Blake Nichols's district-requested resignation was incomplete and asked the board to remove the item from the consent agenda for further review.
Several parents and program alumni took the public-comment period at the Lakeville Area Schools board meeting to ask trustees to delay action on what they described as a district-requested resignation for Lakeville South girls basketball coach Blake Nichols.
Mike Sherills, who identified himself as a Lakeville resident and father of four with daughters in the Lakeville South girls basketball program, said Nichols "knows their names" and described the coach's regular outreach to players and families. Sherills urged the board to "table the district requested resignation." He credited Nichols and other staff for personal follow-up after a player's injury.
Beth Beckwith, a media specialist in the district, spoke separately about facility planning but opened by acknowledging the board's personnel decisions are difficult. Maddie Walco, a Lakeville South alum and former player, told the board she works on high-value federal contracts and believes the process used in this personnel matter appeared "unbalanced and incomplete," saying families and coaches who could have provided context were not interviewed.
Joe McCarney, a parent and a member of the Lakeville South Girls Basketball Association board, called Nichols "values driven" and urged trustees to ensure "fair, comprehensive, and transparent" procedures before accepting a resignation.
The board did not take separate action during public comment. The consent agenda later presented for approval included resignations among other routine items and passed on a voice vote with one board member recorded as opposed. Chairpersons noted that individual complaints about students or staff are to be handled outside public meetings per district rules and that public comment does not produce a board response during the session.
The next procedural step referenced at the meeting was the board's approval of the consent agenda (which includes personnel items) later in the same meeting; public speakers asked the board to remove or table the personnel item to allow further review.
