Conversations surrounding the investigation into the two LeRoy-Ostrander high school coaches, and the possibility to reinstate them was delayed.

Last Friday, a special board session was scheduled to take place in approving the reinstatement of Principal Aaron Hungerholt and fifth grade teacher Trevor Carrier to their coaching positions, after unspecified allegations were made against them. The result was an investigation by the district, as well as the nonrenewal of their coaching contracts for the 2019-2020 school year.

Now, this upcoming Tuesday, the LeRoy-Ostrander School Board, will discuss a three-step action plan to avoid future situations like the one that transpired and sent a community into turmoil and division. Officials also will consider the coaches’ request to reinstate them at the regular meeting at 6:30 p.m.

“The meeting did not take place last week as both coaches took more time to review options,” said Interim Superintendent Jerry Reshetar in an email. “The board will consider their request to reinstate at the regular meeting. Not sure when reinstatement will occur until the board makes a decision on reinstating.”

The ongoing controversy in the school district halso resulted in the termination of the superintendent sharing agreement with Southland Schools District and the end of former superintendent Jeff Sampson’s duties in LeRoy-Ostrander. Calls for Justin Kennedy, the former LeRoy-Ostrander school board chairman and current board member, to resign from his position have persisted along with a petition that garnered 200 signatures from the community.

What’s in the draft action plan?

From a draft of the action plan that was posted on the LeRoy-Ostrander district website, the plan discusses plans for reviewing employees and updating the district’s extra-curricular handbook for review in February. The draft plan states the following:

Step One

The superintendent will in collaboration with the principal and athletic director: review, update the district’s extra-curricular handbook for board review in February 2019

Review and update the district’s extra-curricular evaluation form for board review in February 2019

Draft an extra-curricular personnel code of conduct form for board review in February 2019;

Conduct staff training for all extra-curricular personnel annually; and

Ensure annual evaluations for all extra-curricular personnel are completed and any corrective action taken

Step Two

The school board will non-renew all extra-curricular staff members for the 2019-2020 school year until completion of staff development, acceptance of the code of conduct, and recommendation for assignment from the administration; and

Support the action plan through what they do and say with their constituents throughout the district.