We thank Dave Whitmire for his commentary (“Leave coach decisions to site leaders,” Tuesday): He voiced for many Davis High School parents our collective dismay over what has been a seemingly behind-closed-doors overstepping of protocol, decency and respect by the Davis school board for the decisions and recommendations of DHS leaders and faculty, and an utter disregard for the wishes of DHS students.

In particular, the Davis school board’s actions on Julie Crawford’s boys varsity volleyball coaching contract this winter generated considerable dismay and angst among Crawford’s student players — boys and girls.

Crawford is very much liked and admired by her players, and her accomplishments as a coach speak for themselves. As a player on Crawford’s varsity volleyball team last fall, our daughter grew tremendously as a student-athlete; Crawford profoundly and positively influenced our daughter’s ability and passion for her sport, and her happiness and confidence as a student-citizen of Davis High School.

We are in complete agreement with Whitmire that board members whose children are student-athletes should recuse themselves from decisions on coaching contracts pertaining to their children’s sports.

We also strenuously request that the Davis school board refrain from disqualifying and discrediting recommendations from site leaders on coaching contracts unless it openly and transparently communicates to players, parents and the DHS and Davis communities its reasons for doing so.

In the absence of explanatory information from the school board on its decisions to the players and the general public, its action on such matters and others can only be construed as unsubstantiated and therefore suspicious, and ultimately unfair and totally unworthy of public support.

Kirsten and James Gilardi
Davis

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