Tamyka Simmons, president of the Bedford Football Moms Association, spoke to the school board at the regular meeting Thursday, to explain how important the 2020-2021 season is for the players. She made her case during the audience participation portion of the meeting and stated she was there with the coach, leaders of the football team and other football moms.
“What is most important is that the class of 2021 needs this season,” she said. “They need scholarships, and this will very well hurt our boys, as well as the underclassmen. These boys look forward to this. The practices and the season keep some of them off the streets and out of trouble. … and (sports) are maybe the only reason some of these kids keep their grades up, because they know if they don’t keep their grades up, they can’t play.”
The board had decided on Friday July 31 that the first quarter of school would open in virtual-only mode. In addition, all face-to-face extra-curricular activities such as sports, band, theater and choir would be suspended. The board was following the recommendation by the Cuyahoga County Board of Health to start the year in this fashion.
Simmons, whose son Malik plays for the team, admitted that with the pandemic it can be scary, but she stated the team had been practicing prior to the suspension, and that no problems had occurred. She said she was concerned that if the players don’t practice, they may not be prepared for the chance of other schools opening up and deciding that they want to go ahead with a season in the fall.
“We have to let them practice, especially (since) a lot of other schools are practicing and then come October we’ll have a problem, because we won’t be ready. (Also) some schools may not wait to see if Bedford is going to be onboard or not.”
She said that she knew the decision to allow the players to practice was not completely in the board’s hands since other governmental boards have say over whether sports can be played or not in Ohio, but she reiterated that she, and others that were there, came to the meeting to ask that the board would allow the team to at least practice.
Following Simmon’s speech, the board watched a video produced by one of the football players, Chazz Hunter, that highlighted the importance of the sports season for the students. The video is called “Save Our Season!!!! and can see it here.
The board was also questioned about how the all-virtual plan would affect Career and Technical Education (CTE) classes this fall. Many of the programs, like Auto Tech, depend on hands-on experience.
Superintendent Andrea Celico responded by saying that it is an issue they are still working on, and that they will be in touch with the participants in the programs as soon as there is a decision.
“As you know, we work with five different districts,” Celico said about the program. “We have another meeting scheduled to determine what programs, if any, we can get to be at least at the hybrid model — where we can have students come in part of the time. … That is still on the table.”
A parent in the district, Brigette Underwood, asked the board about why the administration would choose to reassign two guidance counselors to different buildings in the middle of a pandemic. She stressed that this is the time when students’ social and emotional needs are being especially challenged, and that strong relationships are important for student achievement.
Underwood stated that Alecia Henderson, a guidance counselor at Columbus Intermediate School, and Kimberly Young-McCants, a guidance counselor at Bedford High School, were both serving the children well in their respective positions. She gave examples of how effective the counselors have been. Underwood said she was representing a group of parents, students and community members who are asking that the two counselors be returned to their original positions at their original buildings.
In other business:
– The board approved the appointment of Courtney Cantale as the accounting manager for the district effective August 24.
– The 2020-2021 school calendar was also approved.
