Parent Protests Resignation of Coach

Calling his resignation “forced,” Francine Payton took to the podium on Thursday evening to comment on boys and girls track coach Jay Carlin.

At Thursday's business meeting of the Phoenixville Area School District board, Payton, of East Pikeland, told school board members and administrators that she has a daughter on the track team. She said believes Carlin’s resignation was unjust.

“Several weeks ago rumors were circulating that coach had used inappropriate language and/or behavior around the team,” Payton said.

Reading from a statement, Payton explained that if allegations arose about something inappropriate, all parents with kids on the team should have been notified either by other parents or by the administration.

“I feel a phone call should have been made in light of these serious charges,” Payton said. “If this behavior was so out of line for high school students, why is he allowed to maintain his position at the middle school? This just doesn’t add up.”

Payton said she never witnessed language or behavior that would warrant the resignation.

“The only inappropriate behavior I’ve witnessed was Jay’s concern for the team,” Payton said.

She said Carlin would help pay for shoes, drinks and meals when students needed the help.

“For a small group of parents to band together to get a coach fired is outrageous,” Payton said. “There will always be a time when a parent doesn’t see eye-to-eye with an administrator, teacher or coach, but that doesn’t justify a person being forced to resign.”

Following her own statement, Payton read a letter from Theresa Brewer, whose daughter is at Duke University on a Division One track scholarship.

In the letter, Brewer wrote that she was “appalled” by Carlin’s resignation. The letter asked the administration and board to reconsider the action.

“In my mind and the mind of many parents, this is an action that is in no way just or in any way considerate of what this man has done for the children of the school district,” Payton read. “He has put himself aside time after time to inspire and direct every student he touched.”

Payton read the statement and letter during the public comment period of Thursday’s meeting.