Indoctrination in Your State & District

District covering up destructive behavior of coaches

Bay County School District, Florida

Submitted: 2024-02-26

Story:

Our family and 3 others had issues with new cross country coaches in the fall of 2023. Our children were targeted, discriminated against, bullied, harassed, intimidated and eventually unfairly removed from the team. When we tried taking the matter to the school, the admin ignored us. We tried taking the matter to the school district and they ignored us. We finally got our foot in the door and after a 3 month investigation, it was determined that the coaches would not return to coach the upcoming track season but could return for cross country if they did some training. A slight slap on the wrist, but nothing more. They were even paid for the upcoming track season even though they were removed.

During the investigation the coaches sent all 4 families a cease and desist letter claiming we had defamed them. None of us have said anything untruthful or in a public setting, but they have definitely made sure we keep our mouths shut for fear of a lawsuit we cannot afford.

The coaches appealed the decision and because almost everyone in the school district has close ties to the coach, they sent the appeal to a neighboring county. We were told the appeal would take 60-90 days. We should hear back any day. In the meantime, these coaches continue to be allowed on school grounds and harass our kids when the opportunity arises. We have asked for meetings with admin and board members to discuss lingering issues that were not addressed through the original complaint. No one will meet with us. All families asked for the investigation records but we were told "no" because they were protected by FERPA (a law that gives only parents the right to view the records). The kids have anxiety every time they see these coaches and are scared they will return any day. The school district is protecting the coaches from public humilation by slapping a FERPA label on records that should be available to the public, and definitely to the parents who filed complaints. I was even told that if I want my records, I will have to get an attorney. The District gave the head coach the title of "Head Coach of the Year" and he is reportedly coaching at another school while awaiting the appeal. We feel completely helpless in holding the coaches, school and district accountable.

Over the past few years we have had several district employees fired for misconduct including serial relationships with children, video taping young girls in the shower, etc. The school district seems shocked, but there are always rumblings of the misconduct before it becomes criminal and the school district does nothing about it. We believe these coaches are those type of individuals who do greater harm when they realize there is no accountability and have unlimited authority over children. The district just covers it up and moves them to another school.