Superintendent DeCotis stressed

that the MMSAL was an autonomous organization and that the school system

had no authority over it. There are five Fayette County school system

employees on the MMSAL board who are making decisions that affect the

school system. If the superintendent doesn't have authority over such

employees, I would suggest that he do whatever is needed to get some authority

over them.

At least two of three MMSAL

members that denied the original appeal are Fayette County school system

employees, one of which works at Rising Starr, which had a vested interest

in the outcome. That is a conflict of interest.

If the superintendent is not

aware of or does not understand that conflict, he has a problem. If he

is aware and doesn't take action to resolve it, the school board has a

bigger problem. In either case, the MMSAL is in serious need of a major

overhaul. Someone with authority has got to have oversight over this group.

The Flat Rock players and parents

have yet to receive an explanation. They were only told that the appeal

was denied.

This issue must not be allowed

to die without a full and public accounting. The MMSAL failed to follow

their own written rules and has done so in an under-the-table and behind-closed-doors

mode of operation that cannot be allowed to continue.

The MMSAL appears to operate

with unwritten rules that are subject to change without notice. This should

not be perceived as just a Flat Rock issue. Citizens and parents countywide

should be outraged over this and should demand an explanation of what

happened, who is responsible, and what will be done to fix the problem.

Fayette County School Board members, are you listening?

M.C. Henry

Parent of a Flat Rock football

player

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