June 19, 2013 Regular School Board Meeting

Partial transcript of the memory stick recorded at this meeting of the Brookings-Harbor District 17C School Board. Cast of characters: Allene Fewell, Vice-Chair; Jamie Ryan, Board Member; Brad Peters, Board member; Bob Horel, Board Member; Brian Hodge, Superintendent.

Community Comments:

0:00 - Debbie McDonald, mother of daughter. Read two letters: First from McKey Scanlon
1:33 - Hear Brian and Allene talking about process.
5:26 - 2nd Letter - Author not stated but it was another parent.
10:09 - Debbie talking on her own about funding and the AAU
11:53 - Sierra Freeman - 20 year old college student
18:09 - David Freeman - asks to speak later
18:34 - Dick Wilson talks about different subject - hiring coaches. Ask someone to answer his questions.
19:41 - Brain Hodge implied that that wasn't done. "You speak, we listen." However, according to board policy BBDH, "Questions asked by the public, when possible, will be answered immediately by the chair or referred to staff members for reply. Questions requiring investigation may, at the discretion of the chair, be referred to the superintendent for response at a later time." Dick Wilson continues
21:29 - Wilson ends and returns to seat. You hear me whisper the policy issue to Wilson and his comment back.
21:41 - Steve Young - parent whose daughter has quit.
24:06 - Jamie - calls for an executive session to allow coaches to be present
24:38 - Allene
24:53 - Peter Joyce - Has a daughter
27:35 - Brad - wants to hear others
27:56 - Jamie and Brian want to protect coaches
28:40 - Horal says policy doesn't allow this
29:00 - Peter Joyce - parent
29:28 - Jamie recommends collecting a list of people at the meeting and have an executive session with the coaches present.
29:40 - Sierra comments how intimidating that would be for the girls, especially the ones who are afraid of retaliation like they've seen put against anyone who objects to the coaches' actions.
30:33 - Allene - suggests giving the rest their five minutes.
30:44 - Jamie disagrees again. Brad agrees.
31:11 - David Freeman parent speaks anyway
33:19 - Jamie chimes in and talks about the school board policy to set up a meeting after the girls do the proper reporting process at each level
34:18 - Sierra - This is the end of this process.
34:48 - Reports are given.
41:13 - Horel recommends voting on all recommended hires as one vote. It passes.
41:40 - Allene - Comes to actual contracts. They were going to be all put together for one vote. Allene suggested putting two of the contracts based on today's community input. After a bit of discussion
46:50 - Brian spoke and Allene suggested pulling 2C1 and 2C6 for an executive session. The current board decided, basically, to wipe their hands of the issue and turn it over to the new board.
50:44 - Don Sweeny gave a report on the Budget. Last order of business.
55:55 - meeting was adjourned.

I would hope there was a structure, especially if sexual harassment gets involved, that the girls can give their evidence in person with the board and the coaches can have a separate session to answer to those charges. I think for some of the girls the intimidation they have felt in the past from these coaches could very well shut them down - intimidation of the witness. While that would be very instructive on how these coaches operate, I don't think it would serve the bigger picture - making sure the school and sports are positive and safe experiences for student athletes. The executive session never happened.

October 11, 2013 Special Board Meeting
Just before the start of the October 11 special board meeting Brian Hodge was overheard telling Board Chair Jamie Ryan and Board Vice-Chair Kathryne Johnson "The important thing is to get as many people there as possible."

October 16, 2013 Regular School Board Meeting. 56 or more supporters of the coaches given all the time in the world, another more subtle form of retribution. You report on an adult and this will have to you - the rather of a small, but seemingly organization portion of the community comes to the aid of adults and leave the students in the wake.

November 17, 2014
The complaints were turned over to PACE (the districts insurance company (PACE) for an "independent investigation" as recommended by the OSBA. PACE didn't interview any complainants and determined there was no wrong doing. Complainants filed with ODE. On November 17, 2014 the ODE issued their "Findings of Fact, Conclusions and Final Order"