Friday, February 24, 2017

Let's add some more ridiculousness to the Bosco situation

Here's the letter than Father Jim Heuser sent out to football parents earlier today. Read it and you tell me where in the world there's a resignation here:

Dear Members of the Don Bosco Prep Family,
Don Bosco Prep prides itself on acting with integrity and holding the good of the young at its center, and forming around them a community with a family spirit, where every member is treated with respect in accordance with our honor code.
Therefore, it is particularly disturbing to read the many mischaracterizations about the departure of Coach Toal. Because these mischaracterizations have dominated discussion of his departure, I felt it was important that the DBP family hear about the situation directly from me.
Coach Toal’s record of achievement on the field and with our students is a distinguished one, recognized throughout New Jersey and beyond. We are forever grateful that he chose to spend much of his professional career with DBP, and for the many positive contributions he made to our students and DBP over the years. In the last few years, however, issues arose that caused me to evaluate our plans for the future leadership of our football program. As a result, about a year ago, senior leadership of the school implemented certain measures and further engaged Coach Toal regarding the future of the program. Ultimately, however, I was not satisfied that this path fully served the long-term interests of the students and school. Accordingly, earlier this month, I made the decision as Director/President that a formal change in our coaching staff should be implemented.
Change is never easy, and this change is no exception. However, having made the decision that now was the right time for this change, two points became clear. It was important to me that we honor and celebrate Coach Toal and everything he has achieved and done for the school and our students—in both an immediate and permanent manner. (We hope that we can reach an agreement with Coach Toal that will allow us to do so.) At the same time, however, it was important that we act promptly to provide a clear and solid path forward for our current students and our school. On that front, I believe that we have a new head coach in place that will well serve our students and the school for years to come.
Finally, there has been much discussion concerning the announcement of Coach Toal’s retirement before and during last week’s press conference. Prior to the press conference last Thursday, representatives of the Board of Trustees, including our Board Chairman, met with Coach Toal concerning my decision and left with a handshake and the clear understanding that he had agreed to retire from his position. Respecting that decision, we communicated that to our students, faculty, and other interested parties last week, as Coach Toal was advised was our intent. We were surprised to later learn that Coach Toal had apparently reversed his decision.
I invite your prayers for all involved and your ongoing support of the home, school, church, and playground that DBP is for the young.
Cordially, in Don Bosco,
Fr. Jim Heuser, SDB Director/President

Reading: "I made the decision as Director/President that a formal change in our coaching staff should be implemented."
That's a retirement? Hell no
Keep reading: "Having made the decision that now was the right time for this change..." Sure sounds like a firing to me.
Keep reading: "It was important that we act promptly to provide a clear and solid path forward..." Promptly would have been the second week of December, not the third week of February.
Keep reading: "Prior to the press conference last Thursday, representatives of the Board of Trustees, including our Board Chairman, met with Coach Toal concerning my decision and left with a handshake and the clear understanding that he had agreed to retire from his position. Respecting that decision, we communicated that to our students, faculty, and other interested parties last week, as Coach Toal was advised was our intent. We were surprised to later learn that Coach Toal had apparently reversed his decision."
Wait a minute....wait one minute!!!! "Handshake and clear understanding that he agreed to retire"? Say what????
"Respecting that decision, we communicated (BLAH, BLAH, BLAH)..as Coach Toal was advised was our intent." THAT IS FIRED!!!!
"We were surprised to later learn that Coach Toal had apparently reversed his decision." WHAT DECISION, FATHER? You and your people made it for him!!!
Now, is this a complete nightmare or what?
"Ongoing support of the home....and playground."??? We're going to the schoolyard for support now, are we?
"DBP is for the young." Or perhaps the young of mind???
 Read for yourselves right here. It's clear that this was a firing. Hell, the priest, the man of the cloth, has even gone as far to admit it here. Who's laughing now, Padre?
You just fired one of the greatest coaches in the history of New Jersey high school football. How does that feel? HE WAS FIRED. C'mon and set the record straight.
I rest my case.

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