TRR photo by David Hulse Ed Darch appeals to the school board on Phil Marrella’s behalf. (Click for larger image)

Tenure decision protested

By DAVID HULSE

GLEN SPEY — More than two dozen parents and members of the football team came to the defense of coach Phil Marrella on April 19 after the second-year football coach and teacher was denied tenure and given his 30-day notice.

School officials did not comment as supporters lauded Marrella’s record and achievements at the Eldred Central School. Board of Education President Norman Sutherland told protesters that the board was prohibited by law from discussing its personnel action.

Marrella said he heard of the upcoming discharge notice early this month when it had come as complete surprise, as he had received indications from Superintendent Candace Mazur that he would be tenured as recently as late January. “Then all of a sudden this… I’d heard nothing before it, absolutely nothing,” Marrella said.

Marrella said Mazur’s rationale for the discharge was his confrontational style with students.

Supporter and assistant coach Peter Mangianeli said when he presented 285 petition signatures supporting Marrella, some 260 of those came from students at the secondary school.

Marrella was chosen by his coaching peers to lead a team of state all-stars to the Down Under Bowl to be played in Australia. Mangianeli said the honor reflected the work Marrella puts into his job.

Mangianeli detailed after-school time Marrella spends augmenting his program. He detailed the coach’s efforts in sending e-mails and game tapes to college coaches in efforts to assist his players’ educations, and his after-school weightlifting program.

	TRR photo by David Hulse Phil Marrella

Mangianeli said his own son, the team’s quarterback, received offers from coaches at five colleges because of Marrella’s efforts.

Marrella managed to fly in the personal trainer of pro-basketball player Carl Malone to work with the kids and other coaches in the area, Mangianeli reported. “I don’t know how you could even think of letting him go.”

Another assistant coach, Lumberland Supervisor John LiGreci, said politics can get involved in choosing a coach and the kids can get pushed aside. LiGreci said if a change is made the program could be destroyed if the players are left waiting for a replacement until late summer.

Several parents spoke in Marrella’s defense. Parent Debbie Reilly said her son has been ridiculed and called names by other tenured teachers on the staff. Marrella “is the only reason he gets up and gets on the bus in the morning,” she said.

Second-year player Todd Walter admitted he hated “that guy,” after the tough practices of his first year, but when Eldred went on to beat undefeated Liberty last year, “the team really came together… I think Mr. Marrella should stay,” he said.

“I’d like to stay,” Marella said. “I’ll wait and see what happens.”

On April 24, Mazur said Marrella’s situation was still “under advisement.”