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Parents, players urge board to investigate handling of girls’ team; board pledges private meeting
Summary
Parents and nine players from a girls’ team told the Surry County Schools board they felt mistreated by coaching decisions and said repeated requests for a meeting were ignored; the board’s attorney agreed to arrange a private meeting and the board committed to follow-up.
Parents and players pressed the Surry County Schools board during public comment, saying the district has not provided clear answers about recent decisions affecting a girls’ team.
“We deserve to be heard,” parent Jason Leonard told the board, describing repeated requests for meetings with the principal, athletic director and coach that he said were denied or deferred. Leonard said the group includes nine upperclasswomen, many of them National Honor Society members, and asked for transparency and an opportunity for every affected student to speak. “We just want some clarity on this. We want transparency because we've reached out,” Leonard said.
A student who spoke at the meeting said team members have faced (“mental problems”) from pressure and want the chance to tell their side. “We want to be heard,” the student said, asking the board to allow students and parents to present concerns without fear of consequences.
Board attorney Johnson told the speakers that employee- or student-specific grievances are not addressed during public comment for privacy and procedural reasons but that the district would schedule an appropriate forum and work to hear all parties. “You will be heard, and there will be no consequences for you being heard,” he said, adding the board would arrange a meeting with parents, students and district staff.
Chair (speaker 1) and staff asked parents to provide contact information so administrators could set that meeting. The board did not take any disciplinary or personnel action during the meeting; attorney Johnson and district staff volunteered to coordinate a private follow-up with the families and school leaders.
Next steps: the board said its attorney would collect names and contact details from the commenters and help arrange a confidential meeting between parents, student-athletes and school administrators to review concerns.
