Basketball coach’s contract not renewed by school board
ST. MARYS - A unanimous decision by the St. Marys Area School District Board of School Directors leaves the SMAHS Lady Dutch basketball program without a head coach.
The SMAHS library was filled with players of all ages, parents and fellow coaches, as they anxiously awaited the school board’s ruling. Emotions ran high as the matter was voted on with many shocked and surprised reactions once the decision was announced.
During a special meeting on Tuesday evening the school board voted not to renew the contract of Michael Franciscus, former Lady Dutch varsity basketball head coach, who was hired as a coach in August 2021 and as a teacher in September 2021. Franciscus is also a current SMAHS teacher.
Superintendent Harley Ramsey offered no specific reason for the board’s decision stating the issue is a personnel matter which they cannot discuss.
“We feel this is the best approach for the district,” Ramsey said.
With their decision, the school district will have openings for a girls basketball head coach, a seventh grade coach and a sixth grade coach, all of which were held by Franciscus.
When asked if the district had anyone in mind for the new openings, Ramsey said they did not and are looking to advertise for the positions within the next week.
Franciscus initial coaching contract was first renewed in October 2022 at a rate of $3,045 along with being named sophomore class advisor with a compensation of $200. The renewal rate for the head coach position was $3,197 and $882 to be split as the seventh grade coach and $315 as the sixth grade coach.
Following the brief meeting, the hallways were filled with sounds of crying and upset players and parents. One parent pointed out to school board members the emotional state of the girls and how they deserve an explanation.
The meeting, initially planned to discuss a construction project which has now been delayed due to rising costs, quickly changed focus since Franciscus contract renewal came into question.
Players and parents voiced their support of Franciscus earlier this month during a regularly scheduled school board meeting. An executive session took place mid-meeting in which players were invited to discuss the matter with the school board. They were informed a final decision would be announced during last evening’s meeting.
Jayssa Snelick, an SMAHS senior and standout player, commented that there were 16 girls interested in coming back this year however with this decision only eight will likely return.
“All of the girls came out to support him (Franciscus) and our voices weren’t even heard. None of that mattered and we didn’t get a reason on any of it,” Snelick said as she battled back tears.
She added that the team has had some of their most successful seasons with their new coach who managed to build a program for grades 3-12.
“He worked with us on anything to help get us ready for our future and be successful including college and personal matters and none of us had a say in it,” Snelick said. “It’s not fair to our future and once again we having nothing for our summer program.”
Erica Kronenwetter, an SMAHS alumna and current player parent, called the board’s actions “shameful”, specifically describing how they brought the players into an executive session earlier this month “only to be told there’s no justification for their decision.”
“It’s a slap to those girls face who all prepared speeches, devoted their time and effort, to see one coach who has devoted his entire life to bettering the program and to tell them we’re not giving you a reason,” Kronenwetter said.
Speaking at the meeting on behalf of Franciscus was Jerry Quickel, an SMASD substitute teacher who was also a girls basketball coach for 25 years in Maryland and with the DuBois Area School District and Becky Polaski, a private citizen who drew on her 15-years of experience covering sports teams as a local reporter.
During his two seasons leading the Lady Dutch basketball program, Franciscus has garnered a 37-14 record and led the team to the District 9 championship game both years, winning the title in 2022 and placing second this year. His coaching assistants included Zane Adiyeh, a fellow teacher, and Scott Johnson.
Earlier this month Adiyeh was approved as a new assistant girls basketball coach at a rate of $1,800 and was renewed as a seventh grade girls basketball coach at a split rate of $882; and renewed as a fifth grade girls basketball coach at a rate of $330 while Johnson was approved as a new volunteer assistant girls basketball coach.
Additional girls basketball coaching contracts which were approved include: Lena Gavazzi was approved as a new girls basketball assistant coach at a rate of $1,944; Lydia Hershey renewed as fourth grade girls basketball coach at a rate of $315 and renewed as eighth grade girls basketball coach at a rate of $1,680; and Larry Conway renewed as seventh grade girls basketball head coach at a rate of $2,732.