Superintendent Debbie Flores and the Gilroy Unified School
District Board of Trustees are unfortunately hiding behind the
proverbial
”
pending litigation
”
curtain.
Superintendent Debbie Flores and the Gilroy Unified School District Board of Trustees are unfortunately hiding behind the proverbial “pending litigation” curtain. That’s the “reason” for not releasing an investigative report – paid for by taxpayers – into the circumstances surrounding the DUI crash of former track coach Alvin Harrison which led to the dismissal of longtime athletic director Jack Daley from his post.
Ongoing public protests to “Bring Jack Back” continue, and the truth is that if there’s a smoking gun which clearly defines why Mr. Daley had to go, it isn’t clear to anyone but Ms. Flores, the Board and, perhaps, Mr. Daley himself.
That’s a shame because the issue continues to divide the community and, if the facts aren’t clear, it’s a simple “because I said so,” from the Board and Superintendent to the befuddled public. And that’s just not good enough. Either back up the decision to relieve Mr. Daley with facts, or fuel the fire that has led to the wrath that disillusioned community members have expressed over this decision.
Mr. Daley’s supporters are genuine in their concern and frustration. He is clearly revered by many for not only his rapport with Gilroy High School students and co-workers, but for his dedication to making the student athletic experience enriching and meaningful.
Respected board members like Rhoda Bress, Jaime Rosso, Tom Bundros and Mark Good should form a majority that figures out how to release the information necessary to clear the community air. There is a way to bring facts of the matter to the light of day. If there’s ultra-sensitive personnel information in the report, that could be redacted.
Surely, Mr. Daley is due a copy of the report. Just as surely, he would agree to release that report given his support for those who have publicly gone to bat for him to restore him as GHS athletic director.
Beyond that, however, is this: The report, presumably, isn’t just about Mr. Daley. It’s about safety procedures in transporting Gilroy students with regards to school activities. No students were in the car at the time Mr. Harrison, who was driving without a valid driver’s license, crashed. But how he rented a van without a valid license, what procedures, if any, were in place to prevent that and who was responsible to ensure proper procedures were followed are all examples of questions that should be answered in an investigative report.
The public has a right to know those answers, regardless of pending litigation.
The Board has an obligation to inform the public about safety procedures in transporting Gilroy’s children.
Advice from a law firm shouldn’t be the be-all and end-all. There are weightier matters for Gilroy that the Board has an obligation to address in a forthright manner. It needs to figure out quickly how to do that for the good of Gilroy.
