LETTERS: SCOTT CITY COACH WRONGLY ATTACKED

To the editor:

As I am writing this, there is an employee of Scott City High School who is being persecuted wrongly and without justice. Coach Derek McCord, head basketball coach, is being dragged through the ringer by members of the school board who also are allegedly considering relieving him of his coaching position. This is the same school board that the people of Scott City elected with the understanding the board would do everything within its power to see that high school students would have every opportunity to received the same quality of education and the same opportunity to achieve everything that was possible within their grasp.

Now it seems that certain board members think they are above everyone else and that they can make whatever decisions they feel are right at the moment without any regard for the students or parents. As in any school board, they tend to make certain decisions that in retrospect really don't make any sense to most people but do help the school and its students. Usually they are really trying to do as much good as possible. But in this case, stupidity is the only word I can come up with that fits the board's actions regarding Coach McCord.

Let's look back. Since Coach McCord came to Scott City High School, the basketball team has had nothing but success under his reign: four conference titles and three district crowns, not to mention that the basketball team has not lost a regular-season game since early 1997. The team also has remained ranked in the Top 10 in the state rankings for the last four years. Coach McCord has had several players receive scholarships that enable them to play ball at the college level, taking with them the values they were taught by Coach McCord.

Speaking from a personal level, my wife and I have the utmost respect for Coach McCord. He has been a very positive influence on our son. What gets me the most is that certain board members who are not happy with the amount of playing time their children are getting or have a dislike for basketball and have a personal dislike of a coach should use their positions to make a life-changing decision concerning that coach's employment. I am a fan of both basketball and football and hope for nothing but success for both teams. There are a lot of talented athletes in Scott City High School who could achieve so much if they are left alone and don't have to bother with all the petty differences of the adults on the school board.

I also must say that I don't have a whole lot of respect for board members who make derogatory comments about a certain player just to justify a decision on a coach's ability and future. If a board member has a problem with a player, then he should be adult enough to talk to that player's parents and not attack the player. I'm sure that parent would be willing to discuss the problem any time.

If the parents of all the athletes would like to ensure that their children continue to get a top-notch education and receive every advantage possible under the guidance of a great teacher and coach, please come to the school board meeting tonight and voice your opinions or concerns and give all your support to Coach McCord. Stop this stupidity in its tracks.

My wife and I are the proud parents of a student athlete at Scott City High School and have nothing but praise for the teachers and all the coaches we have come in contact with since we moved here two years ago. We would not want our son to attend any other school. You have a great thing going in Scott City. So please don't let it go without a fight. Show this board they are not God and cannot do this without your approval.

RON and SHIRLEY WATSON

Scott City