Garcia: Board’s lack of support for athletics ‘quite evident’

(This letter was sent to Superintendent Dr. John Flores, and Governing Board members Jim Chaston, Shannon Amos, Shannon Johns and Tim White.)

As the decision-makers, elected officials and leaders of the Maricopa school system, I hope you would support the high school athletic programs, but your lack of support is quite evident. Why haven’t any of you been to a single football game this season? I have not seen anyone from the school board come out and support any of the high school athletic teams this fall. I take that back. I did see one of you at the volleyball matches.

The high school student athletes are deprived of basic items such as ice, basic athletic equipment and have to wait for late buses to take them to away games. This is unacceptable. We expect the students to follow a dress code, attend classes, show up on time and follow the rules, yet the school cannot deliver the basics needed for successful athletic programs.

How can student athletes take pride in a school when the district leaders don’t even come out and support them? If you guys can’t do what is best for all the kids, I suggest we bring people in who can. The lack of support you give the student athletes is very noticeable to members of the growing community.

I haven’t seen any of you walk up to any of the kids or the coaches to tell them congratulations after a win or keep your chin up after a loss.

I haven’t seen any of you come by practice to talk to the kids or just ask them how things are going. Being a leader in the community isn’t just about sitting in meetings and voting yes or no. Maybe you should talk to the kids and see what they need and want before you make decisions.

Why don’t you show them that you really care and get involved outside of voting yes or no?

I am not sure if you are on the school board for the kids or just for your own agenda. What do you plan to do about not having a functional ice machine at the high school for the athletic teams to use? We can’t even provide ice to visiting teams. Ice is essential in treating injuries, and we have not been able to do that.

Your differences and issues are becoming very problematic, and your differences are getting in the way of doing what is best for kids in this school system. The bickering and insults amongst all of you is destructive and negative to the future and growth of the school system. Maybe it’s time for new leaders to take over – leaders who will work together, mentor the kids and lead by example.

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