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Parents and board spar over canceled final basketball game; superintendent raises question of continuing high school sports
Summary
Parents disputed a claim that they planned to withhold players that led to a canceled final game. Superintendent Effie Dean told the board she had been informed the parents planned to withhold their boys; the parents denied that. Chair Jolene Marchand urged coaches to accept criticism and consistency.
A disagreement over a canceled final game and the future of high school athletics drew several board members, parents and the superintendent into a heated discussion during the Jan. 30 Nespelem School District board meeting.
Parent representatives Anna and Val Vargas stood and said they did not think the last game should have been canceled and denied telling staff they would withhold players. Val Vargas said she felt insulted by the suggestion. Superintendent Effie Dean told the board she "was told by the AD, Principal & Coach that Anna & Val had told them that they planned on withholding their boys from the last game day, as they did not like the fact that two games were rescheduled for that evening." She said the district needed to decide whether it wanted to keep high school sports given the time and scheduling commitments and the risk of being removed from the league.
Chair Jolene Marchand told the board "coaches need to be consistent and learn to accept criticism." Board members acknowledged the complexity of coaching and the pressures on volunteers and staff. The meeting record does not show a formal board action to remove or curtail high school athletics; the discussion ended without a motion on the future of HS sports.
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