Public comment about girls' basketball program heard at school board meeting

POMEROY–The Pomeroy School District (PSD) board of directors heard public comment discussing the current girls’ basketball program, approved policies and coaches’ evaluations, and discussed renovation projects at their meeting on March 27.

Public comment at the meeting was very supportive of the basketball program and the life skills that girls can learn from it. Piper Herres, mother of a basketball player, expressed both her support of the existence of the program, as well as her difficult experience over the past season and stated she felt she “faced doors slammed” in both her face and her daughter’s. John Dixon, father of both a last-season participant and a participant of a previous season, stated that he believes the “current program is doing an incredible job of building great young women”.

The directors approved the winter coaches’ evaluations by PSD athletic directors of Bob Wolf, Jr High Boys’ Basketball coach; Brock Ledgerwood, assistant Jr High Boys’ Basketball coach; Adam Van Vogt, Jr High Volleyball coach; Hannah Reyes, assistant Jr High Volleyball coach; Fred Knebel, Jr High Wrestling coach; Mat Slaybaugh, High School Wrestling coach; Joel Steele, assistant High School Wrestling coach; Gena Severson, assistant High School Girls’ Basketball coach; Chris Wolf, High School Boys’ Basketball coach; and Ryan Wolf, assistant High School Boys’ Basketball coach. High School Girls’ Basketball coach Tai Bye’s evaluation was not approved.

The directors also approved three policies: Policy 3231, an update to the Student Records; Policy and Procedure 3143-Notification and Dissemination of Information about Student Offenses and Notification of Threats of Violence or Harm; and Policy and Procedure 3225-School Based Threat Assessment Procedure.

After receiving multiple questions about the timing of planned renovations, the directors agreed upon two goal dates. Replacing the lighting at the football field is planned to be finished before the start of the 2023 football season, and renovation of the playground is scheduled for next summer.