THE BEGINNING OR THE END? … while Nancy Peterson did the right thing Thursday night by resigning her seat on the Davis school board, I don’t imagine she’s going to go quietly into the night … clearly, any effectiveness she once enjoyed as a board member has been hopelessly compromised by her role in the dismissal of Davis High volleyball coach Julie Crawford, but her words of resignation sounded more defiant than conciliatory …

Especially telling was her public statement that she believes “the best way to serve all students is to defuse speculation and end further distractions so that the board may carefully deliberate the findings of the district’s report” covering the investigation into the formal complaint that Nancy’s husband, Rob, lodged against Julie Crawford … in other words, don’t expect Rob Peterson to withdraw his complaint and urge the four remaining board members to reinstate Crawford in the interest of peace and harmony … that might be a storybook ending, but it’s not going to happen … trust me on this …

ON THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN … if you thought Nancy Peterson’s surprise resignation means Julie Crawford will automatically be back coaching the Davis High boys volleyball team, think again … Peterson’s resignation and Crawford’s firing are distinctly different legal issues … Crawford’s fate will be decided next Thursday when the board meets in closed session to hear her appeal of her dismissal … even if Rob Peterson were to withdraw his complaint — he won’t — the board still has to act one way or the other on that costly 72-page, attorney-generated report that was ordered by district administrators in response to Rob Peterson’s complaint …

In her parting remarks Thursday night, Nancy Peterson claimed that “this is a precedent-setting moment for our district. The result will set the tone for students and family engagement now and into the future.” … one can only hope that the precedent set here is that $22,000 is far too much money to spend on the fate of one volleyball player who failed to make the team after tryouts last August …

NOTHING TO FEAR BUT FEAR ITSELF … in her resignation statement, Peterson noted that “My sincere hope is that one day this district can create and sustain a culture of advocacy and responsibility absent of fear.” … while it’s hard to disagree with those sentiments, many coaches and others in the district will argue that their fear comes from the fact that a single complaint can lead to the termination of their employment …

BACK IN THE SADDLE … if I were a betting man, I’d wager the mortgage that Julie Crawford will be back coaching the DHS boys volleyball team before the current season is over …

TIME FOR A LITTLE PAYBACK … my friend Hillary, noting the role of the school board, the DJUSD administration and others in the V-gate mess, says they are all responsible “for letting this scandal get out of control to the tune of $22,041.” … no argument here, Hillary …

“They should help to make things right,” she adds … “I suggest they either hold a carwash at Nugget, or sell wrapping paper, candy or cookie dough.” … this, she says, is “just like our kids have done, pounding the pavement, going door to door over the years to help cover costs the schools couldn’t cover, but are somehow able to pay $22,041 for legal help to investigate abuses of power and ego trips.” … now there’s an idea worth investigating …

— Reach Bob Dunning at [email protected]

Comments

comments