“Policies and procedures must be followed.”
With that simple statement, the Board of Education declined this morning to hear an appeal of the non-renewal of Kris Hrisovulos’ contract as Staples High School’s boys tennis coach.
The Board’s decision — taken not as a vote, but as consensus by all 6 members — capped a 90-minute discussion. At its core: whether Hrisovulos — the multi-state championship-winning coach, and candidate for 2019 National Coach of the Year — had been given proper notice by Superintendent of Schools Thomas Scarice, about athletic director VJ Sarullo’s recommendation to not rehire him.
The decision is believed to be based on a complaint made by the parent of a Staples tennis player last year.
Chair Lee Goldstein was not present. She recused herself from the meeting.
Board of Education members (from left): Robert Harrington, Dorie Hordon, Stephen Sedor (legal consultant), Neil Phillips, Jill Dillon, Abby Tolan, Kevin Christie.
A crowd of several dozen — including parents of current and former tennis players, and 5 members of the current team — were on hand when the special BOE session began at 9 a.m.
Based on the advice of their legal advisor, attorney Stephen Sedor, the board immediately headed to the 3rd floor for an exective session. There, they told the audience, they would discuss how to deal with student confidentiality issues.
The auditorium audience milled around for half an hour, uncertain of when the BOE would return.
Town Hall audience waits for Board of Education to return from executive session.
When they did, they considered a request by Hrisovulos’ attorney, Edward Lerner, that the coach was simply “recommended for non-renewal” by Sarullo. The actual non-renewal, according to board policy, must come from Scarice, within 90 days of the end of the season.
For well over an hour, board members and attorneys debated whether that happened. They read and re-read emails between Hrisovulos and Scarice, noting that the coach was discussing Sarullo’s “recommendation,” not any non-renewal per se. They discussed words, intentions and dates.
“If I am not being rehired by my bank, I expect a formal letter, with reasons I am being terminated,” noted BOE member Robert Harrington.
Administrators “can do better,” added fellow member Jill Dillon.
The adjournment of the meeting — before discussing any details of Hrisovulos’ case — does not necessarily mean the end of the saga.
Scarice still has the option to terminate Hrisovulos — who, like all coaches, is on a one-year contract.
However, the bar for termination is high. There are only 4 reasons: immoral conduct, failure to follow BOE rules and procedures, insubordination, and a decision to end the sports program.
A decision by Scarice lies ahead.
For now, Hrisovulos’ non-renewal has not occurred.
When the Board of Education adjourned, the auditorium burst into applause.
Moments later, an emotional Hrisovulos was hugged by 5 current Staples tennis players. Through 2 1/2 hours of debate and legal wrangling, they were there to support their coach.
Staples boys tennis coach Kris Hrisovulos (right) and varsity tennis player Brett Lampert, moments after the Board of Education adjourned. (All photos/Dan Woog)
Renew Kris Hrisovulos to continue his years of gifted teaching to developing and discovering students potential in Tennis.
> seconded
I agree. I don’t know the exact details, but you better have a solid reason to not renew!
Wow, that’s brutal.
Tom, What’s brutal? There are specific reasons for non renewal so it would be expected that one of those was the obvious reason.
Until they weren’t.
If he’s not renewed I hope he sues the f out of the town ! He should and I bet he will win.. I’ll contribute to his campaign, and law suit.
Time for these characters to eat some doo doo ! His treatment was dispicable.
Well, Ciara, we’ll see if Tommy S. figures out how to get out of his bunker/
Still, “I love the clickity-clack sounds of a deposition tape recorder in the morning. It sounds like $ settlement with letter of apology as recommended by Att. Sedor.”
And to think I watched films in that auditorium on rainy days on American Democracy (& also Looney Tune cartoons!).
The comment “we’ll see if Tommy S. figures out how to get out of his bunker/” seems very unfair and certainly unkind. My children graduated Staples 10+ years ago, and I have not followed the coach controversies in any detail, but as a townsperson who checks in on the blogs here in Westport, as well as in the neighboring city where I work, Superintendent Scarise seems to generally comment very early, and sometimes often, when there are issues likely of interest to the greater community (such as the recent clarification of school policy should ICE personnel come to one of our school campuses.) These communications result in a flurry of response on these blogs and I am sure more, and more appropriately, directly to his office.
I believe I saw my first rock n roll band in that auditorium (or was it in the gym directly under the auditorium?), The Knights!
The support that Kris received from former and current tennis players says it all and should be added to the review! He’s obviously successful and loved by the team and kids he coaches. One disgruntled parent’s complaint, unless a serious breach of the 4 reasons for non-renewal, shouldn’t outweigh the respect, loyalty and kinship of his past and present players. Like a lot of issues facing us these days, let’s use some Common Sense in our judgement of people.
A prompt decision would have ended this saga. Procrastination never works out well.
Another example of unfair and illegal actions taken against a good coach. Because a parent complained?
So his contract is up and he’s not being rehired? I’m sure coach can find a job with his resume. Good luck to him!
Hardly Brenda after this scandalous expulsion.
What’s more I am not ok with this town being held to ransom by a shower of douche bags.
The fact that we even have to comment on this is deplorable.
This should have never happened.
The coach and the students should be apologized to.. but we live in Westport.. that ain’t never happening.
Well, Ms. Polk, respectfully, that seems to me not true and entirely not the point, and a glossing over of the main subject here, the potential injustice for these poor coaches. This begins to seem more like a humiliation ritual for the non-renewed coaches vs solid, private and thorough investigations of the facts. One family, one student should not hold sway over grown, professional men’s very lives, reputations, thus compromising any future employment and their family’s very future. If there is true wrong doing, then fine, fire the coach and move on, and people have the right to know why. But right now, surely doesn’t seem to be the case from what I glean so far here. Again, in my view. Dan allows free thought here where people can share their thoughts.
And I no longer live in Westport but went through many similar trials in the professional ballet world for over 20 years. Now I have 2 little granddaughters entering this world of dance as well. Same stuff all over again and I cringe at the thought of all the wrong parental pressure again so their child gets the best though not qualified, and teachers getting fired for not accommodating certain families. It has got to stop. So destructive to our children.
And it’s worse now, and it seems like this is happening everywhere. So I keep up with Dan’s stories on these poor coaches. Also, back in the 70s, playing jv then varsity field hockey at a private school, those coaches pushed us to the limit many times. Were they gruff sometimes, yeah totally, but I made varsity team. Did we girls all laugh behind the scenes some at the coaches getting all reved up, yeah, that’s called youth. And we had a blast. Our young bruised egos toughened and we all lived decent and good lives.
We will be fortunate to have true hearts and talent teaching and training our young if this keeps up in our country. Westport needs to see we all can be affected by how this turns out. Laws get established on these cases. Seems like a lot of life changing decisions are being made without a full investigation of all the facts and private hearings held where it is aired out between the parties. Or maybe those hearings are going in privately now? I hope so. And the public has a right to know the outcomes and why as it affects their families too.
This is a subject I care about and I hope Dan keeps us informed as he can🙏🙏
Thank you BJ Magnes for your far more eloquent explanation.
The treatment of this coach was SHOCKING.
An utter disgrace.
Then again are we honestly surprised, or just yet again disappointed, and having those unfortunate “ah knew it” moments.
How can we expect our young people to grow up with any semblance of moral compass when they are witnessing evil on the daily. And some of it perpetrated by their own parents.
I became an absolute zero tolerance to bull shit spokesperson a long time ago.
Keyboard warrior according to the haters..
but quite frankly I don’t care what the haters say.
I do know my kids will grow up with a moral compass. They will stand up for the bullied, because that is how they were brought up.
They will not turn a blind eye to injustices such as these.
They will call a spade a spade even when ppl will call them crazy for it.
And I could not be more proud of them for that, and more disgusted and grossed out at the treatment of this coach.
I wish more people would grow a pair !
Accountability ! It needs to be demanded by loud voices.
Thank you, Dan, for keeping up informed of this important issue for Westport althletes. Love the detail.