Restart the process

SANDUSKY — Two Sandusky Schools athletic coaches decided not to take job promotions they were recommended for after some residents raised concerns about the selection process and whether it was fair. Superintendent Dan Rambler recommended promoting both Lucas Poggiali and Jamaris Brown to become the new athletics and activities director and new varsity football coach, respectively. The board was scheduled to vote on the recommendations Tuesday. The board opened the regular public meeting but quickly adjourned to conduct a closed-door executive session to discuss personnel matters. After about 55 minutes, board members returned to the open meeting and Rambler announced that both Poggiali and Brown had decided they no longer wanted to be considered for the new jobs. Poggiali has been the head football coach for the last two seasons; Brown has been defensive coordinator and an associate head coach for two seasons. About 50 community members were in the board room when Rambler made the announcement. "I express regret for the sorrow this process has caused them and their families," Rambler said. A day before, on Monday, Rambler met with residents who complained that the selection process had been unfair and racially biased. Many of those same residents attended the school board meeting on Tuesday. The scrutiny was sparked by a social media post made by one of the candidates — Todd Downing — who complained that the process was mishandled. Downing is the district athletic director for the elementary schools and K-6 students. Marcus Harris, a candidate for Erie County commissioner whose son is enrolled in the school district, attended both the forum on Monday and Tuesday's school board meeting. He said there was a lack of transparency and bias throughout the process. Blake Harris, no relation, a former city commissioner, told the board there was bias and a predetermined outcome in the search for a new athletic director. He said this goes against the district's values. Richard Koonce, a former school board member who was elected last year to Sandusky city commission, said he respects everyone's point of view, but he too is unhappy with how the process was handled. "This particular issue is not about you all — it's about changing practices," Koonce said. Koonce highlighted an upside to the situation. He said it was a moment that brought together a community despite age, race or how members are connected to the district. Koonce, up against a time limit for audience participation, ended his comments by calling on Rambler to resign. Another candidate, Ja'Marcus Hampton, was more qualified than Poggiali and did not get a fair shot at the position, according to Koonce and others who attended the meetings. Hampton is an African American Sandusky High School graduate who now works as an associate director of development at the University of Michigan. During Monday's forum, Koonce stated Hampton was extremely qualified for the athletic director position and had applied for the job years ago and again this year. Rambler said he got the news of the withdrawals late Monday night after the forum ended around 7:30 p.m. He said the administrative team will reconvene to decide on the next steps. "We're trying to be reflective of what the community said (at Monday's forum)," Rambler said. "I think we need to look at the entire process again and examine what we want to do from here." Rambler said the district must move quickly and timing is an issue, but restarting the process could take a month. Poggiali issues statement Poggiali also took to social media to share insight on his withdrawal. Here are some excerpts from his statement: • "When the district made the announcement prior to (Tuesday) that they were recommending my promotion to athletics and activities director, it's because they knew how much I wanted to tell our team in person that I was no longer going to be their head coach. I didn't want them to hear it from anyone else." • "When my replacement was recommended to take over without an interim tag, or a search, it's because they valued how much I thought our student-athletes needed to know they were in good hands." • "Amidst all of this, a lot has unfolded. My family and former colleagues and mentors have endured personal information being publicized. I've been called unqualified and undeserving (and) I've been thrust into a controversy that has altered some of the climate at Sandusky High School, and perhaps other parts of the district. Not within the student body." • "After Monday (June 3) I came to the realization that I needed to put my family first and I needed to protect them moving forward. I'm not sure I'm willing to sacrifice the lives of my wife and daughter and subject ourselves to controversy and potential future undermining." • "So I ask members of a community that feel I'm undeserving: do you deserve me, scratching and clawing to prove to people that I'm worthy, and neglecting my family in the process?" • "My future role at the district is very unclear at this time. But one thing that is very clear is my commitment to being there for my family, and that will always come first." • "I want to thank the district and so many others who believed in me and thought that I was the best person for this position. While I still believe that to be the case, I am not able to move forward with my original commitment." Poggiali closed his statement with an appeal to the community to understand his reasoning and an invitation for those who do not understand to reach out to him privately. "I will always have a deep love and passion for this district," he wrote. Editor's note: Story has been changed to reflect that Marcus Harris has a son enrolled in the school district.