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Dozens of students, parents and alumni urge Petersburg board to reinstate Lady Wave coach
Summary
More than two dozen speakers—students, parents, alumni and community members—addressed the Petersburg City Public Schools board during public comment to plead for reinstatement of head girls'basketball coach Latoya Harrison, describing her long service, student supports and community impact; Harrison asked the board to reverse a removal decision she said was taken without consultation.
Dozens of students, parents, alumni and community members addressed the Petersburg City Public Schools board on July 2 during a lengthy public comment period, urging the board and administration to reinstate head girls basketball coach Latoya Harrison.
Speakers described Harrison's work over nearly two decades developing youth, supporting students through trauma and rebuilding the program into a team that went 15-5 last season. "She has been a moral support for these students," one grandparent said, recounting players who left a meeting in tears when told the coach would no longer lead the team. Student speakers testified to the coach's impact on confidence and life skills.
Coach Latoya Harrison addressed the board and described personal sacrifices and program work that she said go beyond wins and losses. "I have dedicated nearly two decades of my life to the students of PCPS," Harrison said, listing efforts to feed players, stock the locker room with toiletries, provide early-morning conditioning and bring in social-emotional supports. "This is bigger than basketball," she said, asking the board to reverse the decision.
Community requests and lack of clarity: multiple speakers asked for transparency about the standards and reasons for the decision affecting the program. Several said they had not been told a specific cause and asked for a clear explanation of expected improvements and evaluation criteria if the system is conducting a coach review. "If every coach is expected to reapply, then we respectfully ask for transparency," said Dr. Shaina Bowser Harris, who spoke during public comment.
No formal personnel vote on the head-coach position was recorded in the meeting minutes or the audible record of the July 2 session that covered public comments and subsequent action items; the transcript shows the board moved on to action items after the comment period. Members of the public indicated they would continue to press the board for reinstatement and clarity.
The board did not resolve the request on the meeting floor; staff and board members acknowledged hearing the comments and said they had received the messages from the community.
