Parents, school staff and concerned residents sought answers from school board members Wednesday night – a night marked by tears and anger after coaches Bob Lutz and Mike Burcham said they would not reapply as leaders of Ironton High School’s football program.

Thursday, May 25, 2000

Parents, school staff and concerned residents sought answers from school board members Wednesday night – a night marked by tears and anger after coaches Bob Lutz and Mike Burcham said they would not reapply as leaders of Ironton High School’s football program.

"One of the biggest problems I see is this has gone on since February," Mark Lewis said, addressing board members.

"I have worked with them for 27 years It really should be what can you do for them."

Resident Mettie Martin said the board should get the coaches on the phone and beg them to stay.

"This is what this community wants and is what should have been done already," she said.

Board president Rayetta Waldo said no member wanted the coaches to leave and the board had been optimistic they would resolve the coaches issue in executive session, which had been continued from a similar four-hour session Monday.

Mrs. Waldo said the board had planned to work out the coaching proposals, post the positions and rehire the coaches.

Just before the executive session, Lutz announced that the debate over his and Burcham’s plans to retire from teaching and retain their supplemental coaching contracts had gone on too long.

"I’d like everybody to know I will not be a candidate to reapply," Lutz said.

Lutz and Burcham then walked out of the meeting, followed by most of the crowd of about 50.

Outside, Burcham echoed Lutz’s statements, adding he will follow suit.

"This has gone on long enough," he said.

Some called the school board’s actions in previous weeks subversive and political.

Many blamed the walkout on the board’s delay in acting on an issue they say began in February.

All expressed frustration that football players and students will suffer the most.

"I have never seen Bob Lutz back up on anything," said Sam Heighton, who has never missed a football game, home or away, since 1963.

"These people let their ego control their brains," he said, referring to board members. "I’m extremely disappointed it came to this."

Mrs. Martin said if there was no money involved after Monday night, when the coaches waived any raise in salaries, then it should have been settled then.

The students might persuade them to come back but hopes are not high, Mrs. Martin said.

"We have no game plan," she said. "We have no coach to fight for now thanks to the union and school board."

Frank Norris suggested the community organize a football team at St. Joseph High School now.

"Intermet, Cabletron losing two or three businesses is nothing compared to this," Norris said. "They’ll never find a coach willing to fill Bob Lutz’s shoes."

Board members said they began negotiating on proposed coaching salary changes and proposed new positions concerning the coaches May 1 when contract talks began with the Ironton Education Association.

They wanted a commitment Monday with respect to the positions requested and board members agreed to work with them on several "sticking points," Mrs. Waldo said.

"We have never been opposed to them coming back and coaching but there were little odds and ends, more to it, things that had to be worked out," she said.

Some of those involved further talks with Lutz, Burcham and the union, like what happened Monday night, and that meeting ended with everybody’s desire to renew discussions Wednesday, Mrs. Waldo said.

"They indicated their frustration and we will not dispute that," she said, adding board members did not know the coaches would leave the meeting.

Several high school football players attending the meeting said they would transfer from Ironton to other schools now, and the football program at IHS would end.

"We hope that is not the case," Mrs. Waldo said.

"Monday, we sat four hours talking about it," board member B.J. Hannon said. "They preferred something else and we said we’d meet again tonight."

A statement of commitment prepared just before Wednesday’s meeting would have been read after the board discussed it in executive session with the coaches, board member Kathy McGinnis said.

That statement read:

"It is the intention of this board to employ Mike Burcham as athletic director, coordinator of football, summer physical fitness and such other positions that the board may create for the 2000-2001 school year. It is also the intention of this board to employ Bob Lutz as head football coach, summer physical fitness and such other positions that the board may create for the 2000-2001 school year.

"Salaries for above-mentioned positions shall be negotiated with the Ironton Education Association through the normal contract negotiations currently being carried on between the district and the IEA."

Still, several residents told the board it should have notified the coaches earlier, or at least said something about the statement before they left the room.

Others commented on what they called the board’s sudden desire to commit to rehiring the coaches.

"It seems if that is the case, you should get them back in here ask them on your hands and knees if you have to," Ed Fry said.

Another resident asked every board member to comment.

Member Robert Pleasant said he felt the board had planned to resolve the issue after making progress Monday.

Certain procedures had to take place, something he committed to doing when he ran for election because he felt policies had not been followed in the past, Pleasant said.

"Maybe we did wait too long but there are policies that have to be followed and that’s what I’m going to do," he said.

IEA president Mary Ann Philabaun said the union was not opposed to the positions the coaches wanted.

"I’m negotiating for 130 teachers and I have to look at the money 130 staff will get," she said.

The union will fight for raises for all contracts, including the coaching supplementals, she said.