Marching‑band boosters request district pit and secure storage; parent presses district on swim‑coach communication

During the public‑comment portion of the May 6 Abington Heights School Board meeting, two speakers urged administrative support for student athletics and activities.

Carrie O'Reilly, co‑president of the marching‑band boosters, asked the board to permit use of the high‑school pit football field for band camp and to provide a lockable room in the district administration building where instruments and equipment could be stored during camp. O'Reilly said football practices sometimes make the high‑school field unavailable and that the pit provides the space the band needs for formations and drills. She asked the board to consider covering or sharing the costs of prepping the field (mowing, lining) or to help identify community partners. "These students have worked really hard. They deserve to march this season and with your support, they will," O'Reilly said.

Board members asked follow‑up questions about where the band had rehearsed previously and were told that last year the band used various adjacent fields; Superintendent Dr. Schaeffer asked the boosters to submit a formal facility‑use request so staff could coordinate field lining and restroom access.

Later in public comment, parent Doug Paulman raised concerns about communication around the reported departure of the high‑school head swim coach. Paulman said he had heard from multiple credible sources that the coach had stepped down but that families had not received formal notification. He asked whether booster‑club members were recruiting for the position and urged that the district's hiring process remain transparent and controlled by administration and the athletic director. "If the position is in fact vacant, I believe the student athletes and parents deserve timely and professional communication from the district," Paulman said.

Superintendent Dr. Schaeffer responded that he was unaware of a resignation letter and that the district posts openings on its employment page and uses email plus professional sites (Indeed, LinkedIn) as appropriate; he said he would follow up with Paulman to clarify the posting and hiring process.

The board did not take action during public comment but asked administration to provide the requested follow‑up and to process any formal facility‑use requests from the boosters.