Published March 20, 2008

348-name petition supporting Donnie Byrom presented at school board meeting

‘Nettes Coach Donnie Byron has recently been relieved of his coaching duties at Pickens High School where he led the girls’ softball and basketball teams for the past several years.
But, according to Superintendent Mike Ballew, “He’s still a teacher. He just hasn’t been assigned coaching duties next year.”
Byrom, who has been a coach a total of 19 years, had his PHS coaching responsibilities stripped last week for reasons that “fall under personnel matters,” according to School Board Chairman John Trammell. “We can’t disclose that kind of information, because it’s a privacy situation. He has tenure as a teacher, it was just his coaching duties that were in question.”
But, at last Thursday’s school board meeting, a large group of ‘Nettes players came to show their support for Byrom and his coaching abilities. During the “Public Participation” portion of the meeting, in which people who have formally requested to address the board on a specific topic are given five minutes to speak, four supporters of the former coach gave emotionally charged speeches on his behalf.
“All I can ask of you is your reconsideration,” said current ‘Nettes player Lindsay Logan. “Look at all of us here that want him. Look at the family you are tearing apart.”
Three of the four speakers (Meagan Stephens, Brittany Sutton, and Lindsey Logan) are either current or previous “Nettes team members, and the one adult speaker (Mitch Yeargin) is friend to Byrom through his high school-aged daughter.
“Our daughters are good friends,” said Yeargin. “My problem with the situation is when you ask why, and no one can give any reasons.”
According to Byrom, he is not even sure why his coaching duties were revoked. “I was told that for coaches there is no due process, and I was not given a reason,” he said in a later interview.
Yeargin, however, during his five-minute speech delivered at the board meeting, said he and a group of Byrom’s supporters narrowed the cause down to 14 complaints made to the PHS administration by angry parents.
“There is no other coach with a better record in Pickens,” Yeargin told the board, “so it is clearly not his work on the court that led to the dismissal. We also looked at his performance evaluations, and no negative comments were addressed. So, we concluded the dismissal was based on parents complaints,” which Yeargin described as being from the “vocal minority.”
At this point, however, “everything is still speculation, because no reason has been given,” Byrom said. “I asked how I could fix the mistakes, and I have gotten no comments,” he said.
Board Chairman Trammell did note that several Byrom critics were discouraged from attending the meeting. “They had a right to do it, but we didn’t want two opposing groups to get into it at the meeting,” Trammell said. “I don’t like to hear negative at the meetings.”
Speaking on behalf of the board, Trammell said of the board’s decision to uphold the recommendation of PHS administration and Superintendent Ballew, “Our administration has previously shown good judgment and fairness. We see no reason nor any sign that thoughtfulness, fairness, and good judgment was not used in this decision.”
Trammell also noted that neither the school board, superintendent, nor the school administration has “omnipotent” power when it comes to hiring and firing of personnel. School administration is required to make personnel recommendations to the superintendent, who is then required to make the recommendation to the school board.
“We then make a vote on the superintendent’s recommendation,” said Trammell. “We can only say yes or no. We can’t make suggestions.”
According to Byrom, ‘Nettes team members have shown great support since his coaching responsibilities were taken away last week. “They wore shirts with my name on them and put up banners. The care and love they have given me shows that I had a good impact with a group of young girls,” Byrom said.
A petition was also submitted to the board at Thursday’s meeting with 348 names. “We were able to get the names in just four days,” Yeargin told the board.
Byrom said in a phone interview his plans are to relocate to a new school. “That’s the hard decision you have to make as coach. But, my first priority is for my daughter, who I have coached for years. I want to find a place where she can stay.”
When asked if he would return to PHS if the decision were reversed in the future, Byrom said, “I would have to ask the superintendent and principal to sit down and talk to me. Then I would pray and talk to God for answers.”
But, Board Chairman Trammell said he doesn’t foresee a change in the decision. “I think we brought some finality to the matter. If the administration came back to us, we would look at it. But, I don’t anticipate that happening. I am sure we will find a well qualified person to fill these responsibilities and to continue the reputation our teams have.”

In Other School Board News:

• Pickens County Middle School was honored with a 2008 Georgia Beacon School to Watch Award. PCMS was originally recognized at the Georgia Middle School Association (GMSA) Luncheon in Savannah, Georgia on February 26 of this year.
Beacon schools are recognized as making conscientious efforts towards fulfilling the criteria for Georgia Lighthouse schools in the areas of academic excellence, developmental responsiveness, social equity, and organizational structures and processes. PCMS is one of only 11 schools in Georgia to receive the honor.
• Financial Director Amy Burgess reported the Pickens County School Systems has received 90 percent of its 2007 ad valorem tax revenue. “Many schools don’t collect over 95 percent,” she said, but she expects Pickens will collect all 100 percent in the near future.
• Shannon O’Dell of PCMS was recognized as being the only student in Pickens County named to Georgia All-State band for the 2007-2008 school year.
• Alexia Baggs of PCMS was recognized for winning the 2007-2008 Pickens County Spelling Bee for grades 4-8.
• PCMS FLL Robotics Team was recognized for placing 3rd in the State Championships held at Georgia Tech on February 9. The FLL Robotics team competed against 53 teams.
• Harmony Elementary School placed 2nd in the Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl for the North Georgia Region. The team competed against 14 other schools on February 9, and Harmony Principal Sherry Mullins said, “This competition is meant to inspire students to become lifetime readers. We are so proud and would like to recognize them at this time.”
• HES also placed 8th nationally in the Math Facts competition. HES student Kyle Waters was recognized for placing 3rd in the Math Facts division competition, and 4th nationally. “Congratulations to all of those students and teachers,” said Principal Mullins.