On Nov. 9 the school board held its monthly

On Nov. 9 the school board held its monthly meeting. A few concerned parents criticized the way coaches are hired at the high school. I would like to take this opportunity as an alumni who has attended or played in sporting events at the high school for the past 18 years to voice my opinion. First, let me point out that it is my understanding that two students’ parents who voiced concerns have had their children in the athletic system at the high school for only one season. How can these parents objectively examine the entire sports system without first experiencing it? Secondly, didn’t administrators in the central office hire an athletic director to make decisions such as hiring qualified coaches? The answer is yes, Mr. Mike Tupper. For many years I have witnessed Mr. Tupper at virtually every sporting event at the high school. He has seen firsthand the dedication, knowledge, and work ethic of every coach that he has hired. On the other hand, I cannot recall ever seeing a current administrator in the central office at one sporting event that I attended. So, I wonder how can these same administrators ques'tion Mr. Tupper’s method of hiring qualified coaches? Finally, if there is a legitimate concern about coaching practices then in my opinion it should be taken directly to the source and dealt with personally instead of bringing it to the public forum. In my opinion, these coaches and the school’s athletic director have been “slapped in the face” for all their hard work and dedication not only by these few parents but also by the administrators who allowed this to happen. On Nov. 22, there will be a meeting open to the community at RCHS. All concerned citizens may voice their opinions at this time. In conclusion, I can only hope that when all this settles there will be both a public and private apology to every coach and to Mr. Tupper. Dan Ellis Scrabble