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Controversy Over Firing of Artesia High School Coach at ABC Board Meeting By Shelley Henderson
athlete, described a meeting on September 30, 2009, with Principal Garcia. She Controversy over the departure of said that Mr. Garcia refused to answer Artesia High School football and track questions concerning Coach Craver and coach Aaron Craver escaped attempts by insisted on discussing only the future AHS Principal Sergio Garcia to manage of the football and track programs. In upset parents and student athletes at the particular, Mr. Garcia refused to give school level. An ABC Unified School a reason for Coach Craver’s departure. District Board of Education reduced by Ms. Kimball stressed the adverse effects the absence of two memon both football players and bers, David Montgomery track participants of the coach’s and Armin Reyes, listened departure after the beginning of to complaints and concerns the school year. during the public comments Gwen Frizee complained segment at the Oct. 6 Board that her phone calls to the school meeting. went unanswered. She alleged A repeated theme during that players were threatened by the public comments was school staff members that either inadequate explanation of the they played in the first football reason for Coach Craver’s game or they would not be aldeparture and alleged preslowed to participate in sports for AHS Principal sure from school adminthe rest of the school year and Sergio Garcia istration towards student next year. The impression was athletes to participate in given that this direction came activities or face disciplinfrom Principal Garcia. ary action up to and including enforced Beyond thanking the speakers for non-participation in future school sports their comments, ABC School Board activities. members and Superintendent Gary Smuts One speaker, Jerrod Williams, asserted made no response to the controversy. that he had been banned from attendPrincipal Sergio Garcia attended ing AHS football games because he has the School Board meeting to represent spoken up. He said that a minor incident District high schools and speak about the at the first football game of the season was District’s 2009 Accountability Report. He blown out of proportion as an excuse for also did not respond to the controversy. his banishment. Artesia High School reported a Amber Wilson and Davon Israel, both 38-point rise in its API score at the same student athletes at AHS, described how Board meeting. Principal Garcia went on personally inspirational Coach Craver record to say that the school will attempt was. They each expressed concern for to reach the statewide goal of a score of their careers as student athletes at the 800 for next year’s Accountability Rehigh school level and beyond due to the port. The ABC School District as a whole unexpected and unexplained departure of attained a score of 814 this year. Coach Craver. Angela Kimball, a parent of a student
COMMUNITY NEWS GROUP • OCTOBER 16, 2009
SHORT SALE SPECIALIST
Cerritos Community Prayer Breakfast Oct. 21 The Cerritos Community Prayer Breakfast will be held Oct. 21 at the Sheraton Cerritos Hotel beginning at 7:15 a.m. to 9 a.m. Keynote speaker will be Matt Luke, two year All American, 1991-92. Luke was drafted and signed by the New York Yankees in 1992, and won a World Series title with the 1996 Yankees and was part of four minor league championship teams. Reservations are being taken until Oct. 16. A complete breakfast is $25 per person and a reserved table for eight is $200. Make checks payable to: Cerritos Community Prayer Breakfast % Allan Wood 11090 Artesia Blvd., Suite G. Cerritos, Ca. 90703. For additional information contact Ana Titus at (562) 860-9607.
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