Published Tuesday, July 15, 2008 6:05 AM

Coaches accused of abuse

By JANET PHELPS
Eagle Staff Writer

A group of parents told school board members Monday that members of the Bryan High School softball coaching staff have intimidated and verbally abused their students.

Parents asked trustees to consider allegations of ethics violations by head coach Enrique Luna and three others. They also asked that trustees place the issue on an upcoming agenda to hear a full presentation.

"It is our belief that our students have been abused by the staff at Bryan High," Stacy Flores told the board.

Flores, along with her husband and two children, were joined by three other parents who voiced similar concerns to trustees.

Bryan High School Athletic Director Harry Francis said Monday night that he had heard the parents' complaints and did not plan further investigate their claims.

"We've addressed the issues with the staff," he said. "There are different accounts to the stories."

He declined to comment further.

Trustee David Stasny said during the meeting that the board would discuss the issue at a later time.

"Right now we really just have one side of the story, and we want to get both sides and go from there," he said later.

Luna did not return messages seeking comment Monday evening.

Parents who spoke Monday said their children have been punished unfairly and that coaching staff have acted unethically in their treatment of some students.

"The coaching staff endangered our students," Flores said. "There's also been no communication with the parents. Coaches have said things and basically slandered our children in front of other students, but there was never any communication with the parents that there were any problems."

A handout which Flores distributed to board members detailed more than seven pages of allegations involving three students and names four coaching staff members.

The handout also accuses Superintendent Mike Cargill of "violating the taxpayer's trust by allowing these people to continue in their positions."

Cargill was not available for comment Monday.

Bryan schools spokeswoman Sandra Farris declined to comment on specifics, citing personnel issues and student privacy issues.

"The complaints have been investigated by the athletic director," she said.

Farris said parents can choose to file a formal grievance with the board, which may place the issue on an agenda for a public meeting or hear the issue in closed session.

Julie and Steve Young and Stacy Flores told trustees during the meeting that they first brought the issue up with staff in May, but no satisfactory action was taken.

A letter signed by six parents sent to Cargill and Francis in June states the students were "subjected to ridicule, humiliation and abuse."

Coaches told two 16-year-olds not to come to class for the remaining month of the spring semester, Flores said, adding that staff told the students they would fix their grades and attendance records, and they did not care if they left school grounds.

The Youngs, Roy and Stacy Flores and Billy and Annette Salinas wrote that staff cursed and ridiculed students in front of their peers, showed overt favoritism and subjected players to increased risk of injury, among other complaints.

In an e-mailed response, Francis wrote: "After speaking with our staff, some situations could have been handled differently and [we] feel that those types of situations are very correctable... In my opinion, your demand that multiple coaches be relieved of duties in the program would be a detriment to softball and the other sports ... The other points in your document have been a source of reflection that will help us to be better motivators and challenge us to meet the needs of our students."

Francis also wrote that Luna would be willing to meet with parents individually.

Russ Ford, who said his three daughters have graduated from Bryan High, also voiced his concern during the meeting and said his daughters were willing to speak about specific actions they witnessed during the program.

Board rules prohibit citizens from naming specific staff members during public comments.

Flores said after the meeting that she was motivated to speak out when her daughter considered dropping out of softball for her senior year.

"I'm angry. I'm frustrated because we've gone through all the steps and nothing's changed," she said.

• Janet Phelps' e-mail address is janet.phelps@theeagle.com.

---