Wednesday, November 7, 2001
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Wednesday, November 7, 2001 |
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Middle school league must be overhauled The Fayette County school system's athletic program has lost total credibility over the recent events surrounding the Flat Rock Middle School football team. I hope that the Fayette County School Board is listening. The people in charge had at least three opportunities to fix the mistake and failed to do so each time. The MMSAL first denies Flat Rock's appeal. Then Superintendent DeCotis then listened attentively but failed to act other than to request an emergency meeting of the MMSAL to reconsider. And finally the MMSAL met again and once again denied the appeal. The logic displayed in denying the school with the best record and rights to the number one seeding to participate in the playoffs is a source of grave concern. The people who made this decision are the same people responsible for teaching our children. The arrogance displayed in the whole matter, but specifically by the MMSAL at Tuesday night's meeting, is appalling. They had law enforcement officers stationed outside the building to prevent parents from entering. Superintendent DeCotis stressed that the MMSAL was an autonomous organization and that the school system had no authority over it. There are five Fayette County school system employees on the MMSAL board who are making decisions that affect the school system. If the superintendent doesn't have authority over such employees, I would suggest that he do whatever is needed to get some authority over them. At least two of three MMSAL members that denied the original appeal are Fayette County school system employees, one of which works at Rising Starr, which had a vested interest in the outcome. That is a conflict of interest. If the superintendent is not aware of or does not understand that conflict, he has a problem. If he is aware and doesn't take action to resolve it, the school board has a bigger problem. In either case, the MMSAL is in serious need of a major overhaul. Someone with authority has got to have oversight over this group. The Flat Rock players and parents have yet to receive an explanation. They were only told that the appeal was denied. This issue must not be allowed to die without a full and public accounting. The MMSAL failed to follow their own written rules and has done so in an under-the-table and behind-closed-doors mode of operation that cannot be allowed to continue. The MMSAL appears to operate with unwritten rules that are subject to change without notice. This should not be perceived as just a Flat Rock issue. Citizens and parents countywide should be outraged over this and should demand an explanation of what happened, who is responsible, and what will be done to fix the problem. Fayette County School Board members, are you listening? M.C. Henry Parent of a Flat Rock football player
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