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Community urges board to keep coaches who also serve in school roles
Summary
Dozens of residents, students and staff told the Zion-Benton Twp HSD 126 board on May 19 that a policy barring administrators from coaching would harm students and community relationships and urged the board to find contractual or policy compromises to keep the coaches in place.
Dozens of community members, students and staff urged the Zion-Benton Twp HSD 126 Board of Education on May 19 to allow two district employees to continue coaching while serving in other roles, saying the coaches provide mentorship and stability that benefit students beyond athletics.
At the public-comment portion of the meeting, speakers from across the district described coaching as a mentoring role that extends into the classroom, hallways and community. Ron Edwards, identifying himself as a community advocate, said: "Coaching ain't just about the sport. Coaching ain't just done on the field," and urged the board to "put these babies over the policy." Several speakers told personal stories of students who had improved attendance, behavior or confidence after relationships with the coaches.
Parents, alumni and staff echoed the point. Emily Braden said the coaching staff "helped my son through hard times" and called coaches "mentors" who support students academically and socially. Jeff Norman, a pastor and coach, told the board to "put people over policies, procedures, and processes," and quoted Coach White as saying, "Life is going to let these kids down. I'm not going to do that today," as an example of the coaches' commitment.
Speakers also raised workplace and governance concerns. Demetrius Terrell told the board he had faced difficulties obtaining workplace accommodations after a 2020 injury and said he feared policy changes were tied to efforts to remove union protections for some staff; Terrell said he would send the board more documentation by email.
Board members and administrators did not take action during public comment. The chair reminded the audience that some matters cannot be addressed on the spot and that the board follows established procedures for personnel matters. A former board member who spoke during the period urged the board to "hold the vision" and remember past situations when coaching and administration roles were balanced.
The public-comment period occupied a substantial portion of the meeting, with multiple speakers pressing the board to negotiate contracts or find compromises so the coaches can remain in both capacities. The board later moved into routine committee reports and business; the record shows no formal vote on coaching policy at the May 19 meeting.
Next steps: the board did not adopt a new policy or rescind existing language at this meeting. Community speakers asked the board to consider contractual solutions or policy amendments and indicated they would follow up with the board.
