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Hold Ronan trustees accountable

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Editor,

It appears that the Ronan cross country team will begin the season in two weeks without an assistant coach hired due to politics. Following a successful 2011 season with the girls’ and boys’ cross country programs, I was not re-hired as head coach because I was attending monthly board meetings and questioning some actions the school board was taking and, in the words of board chairman Chris Lynch, “shedding a negative light on the district.” My daughter, Noelle Decker, was hired as the new head coach and in the spring of 2012, I applied for the assistant position. I completed all of my district paperwork and was recommended by Noelle for the position. Chairman Lynch has blocked a discussion and vote on my hiring by refusing to put my hiring on the agenda. I have repeatedly asked to be put on the agenda, and Noelle has requested that my hiring be on a board agenda. I was told by Chairman Lynch and other board members last fall after I was not renewed as head coach that they thought I was a good coach, but that they were tired of me “attacking the district.” I will not go into detail regarding the alleged “attacks,” but they centered around district financial practices that were, and continue to be, in violation of Montana state law, violations of board policy in hiring certified and classified staff members and violations of Montana’s open meeting laws. Every allegation I made was supported by facts that I shared with board members at the time the issues were raised.

I am the only applicant for the assistant coaching position and feel that I have the qualifications to be an effective assistant. Board policy requires two coaches at the high school level for the cross country program. Chairman Lynch will have the choice of putting me on the agenda for the next scheduled board meeting on Monday, Aug. 13, or again violating board policy by having only one coach in place for the start of the season.

I have been asked to withdraw my application and resolve the dilemma so that someone else could be hired for the position because that would be in the best interests of the program and athletes. My position is that Chairman Lynch should put a discussion of my application on the agenda and that individual board members who are opposed to my hiring should explain their opposition to the cross country athletes, parents and community. That action would be in the best interests of the athletes and program.  

I urge residents of School District 30 to become informed regarding some of the actions that the board has taken under Chairman Lynch’s guidance. Attend the August meeting and use the public comment time on the agenda to ask questions. Hold these elected officials accountable for their votes.

Gale Decker
Ronan

 

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