Paramus Mayor LaBarbiera on BOE Meeting: 'Why hasn't this meeting been rescheduled and why isn't there the same rush, urgency to hire...?'

Paramus Mayor Richard LaBarbiera has posted the following statement on his Facebook account about the Paramus Board of Education’s lack of hiring a new baseball coach with the season a month away:

With regard to the issue of HS Baseball coach, to date as this is a BOE personnel matter, I have weighed in only on the process and echoed perception concerns of residents that must be addressed at some point. Consistent with this I have been asked as Mayor to again echo questions/concerns that have been brought to me by residents and student athletes that I strongly agree with as both the Mayor and parent.

At the end of last year there was a perceived “rush” by the BOE to not rehire the Coach with very little information provided, which I can appreciate as it is a personnel matter. The January 26th meeting was cancelled as was the Feb 2nd meeting due to snow, which no one has control over. As of today the January meeting has not been rescheduled leaving only the Feb 23rd meeting to hire a Coach before the March 6th start of the Baseball Season.

Why hasn’t this meeting been rescheduled and why isn’t there the same “rush” and urgency to hire a coach as there was to not rehire? The issue is not going away! This is not about who ultimately is the Coach and everyone is entitled to their opinion, but rather the process and bringing closure to this matter as deserved by the baseball community, players and most importantly the seniors.

Athletics is an important part of many students HS experience and some hope to continue in college with hopes of perhaps an athletic scholarship which coaches typically assist with. Barring unforeseen circumstances and never mind it has already taken this long, to hire a varsity coach in any sport less than 2 weeks before the start of the season is unacceptable and a tremendous disservice our student athletes.

Accordingly I ask all to contact Ken Rota/Superintendent krota@paramus.k12.nj.us and Steve Cea/Business Administrator-Board Secretary scea@paramus.k12.nj.us and ask that it be passed on to the Board of Ed Trustees who like myself are elected to represent the people, that you urge a special meeting be held as soon as permitted to hire a Varsity Baseball Coach.

Thank you.

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