A sizable crowd of parents and school patrons attended Monday night’s Chandler Board of Education meeting with a couple of them voicing strong support for softball coach Bryan Herring.
School Board President Joseph Irby told those in attendance that Barry Herring and Brad Pittman asked to be placed on Monday night’s agenda. He explained there would be no action taken because there wasn’t an agenda item on the matter.
Pittman and Barry Herring were allowed three minutes each to speak.
Barry Herring said he understood that some things were said in a derogatory manner regarding the direction of the softball program. He added that he is in favor of Bryan Herring.
“There isn’t a person out there that is better to run this program,” he said.
Pittman read his comments from a letter he’d written. After the two had spoken, Irby said he’s been on the school board for 13 years and he has never seen such a large crowd at a school board meeting. He further noted that the board has received several letters and phone calls both for and against Bryan Herring.
He added that the duty and extra duty assignments are decided in June or July.
In Pittman’s comments that he read, he told those in attendance he and Coach Bryan Herring have a relationship like no one else. He said, “For those of you that know of our past and what we’ve been through together, you may find it hard to believe I’m one of his biggest supporters.”
He said he’s gotten to know Coach Herring very well over the last few years. He mentioned his son who is a senior that Herring has taught and coached and a daughter who is a sophomore that he has also taught and coached.
Pittman said the coach instills confidence and a work ethic in his athletes and creates an environment that feels like the team is a family. In the comments he read, he called Coach Herring “not only a great softball coach but a great man.”
Pittman pointed to when his daughter had surgery over the summer that Herring was one of the first to reach out to him on the morning of the surgery to check on her and continued to do so throughout her recovery.
He pointed out some of Herring’s achievements including: Winning 2 slow pitch state championships, winning one first pitch championship, capturing 10 fast pitch districts out of the last 14 years and winning six slow pitch districts out of the last 10 years.
Other accomplishments included Fast Pitch Region 2 Coach of the Year twice, Fast Pitch District Class 3A-4 Coach of the Year three times and Large West All-State Slow Pitch Coach of the Year twice.
Pittman ended his comments in part, saying, “It appears there is a small group of parents upset because their players didn’t get recognized for certain awards they felt should have received. I’m baffled,” he noted. “Why that is even a blip on the radar for the school board and the superintendent and why this even is being entertained.
“It’s disheartening a good coach and a good man is having to plead his case when all he has done and continues to do and does a fantastic job as the head Chandler High School softball coach.”
In board action, School Supt. Scott Baade said members voted to approve the district mileage reimbursement rate for the calendar year 2023 at 65 cents per mile.
They also accepted the resignation of Jack Kuczinski, maintenance, and heard that the mid-term adjustment the district received was $33,150.40 down.
The board approved the Student Dropout Report for school year 2021, he said.
Following an executive session, the board returned to open meeting and tabled until the February meeting modifying the superintendent’s contract.