A hard-working, loyal coach is treated badly in LaBrae

A hard-working, loyal coach is treated badly in LaBrae
EDITOR:
I am writing to express my disappointment and my displeasure with LaBrae Local Schools. Dennis Seger was a model student and star athlete for Braceville. He had two children and raised them in Leavittsburg, where they attended school and were active in sports. He played an active role with helping the teams they were a part of, not only because he wanted to be involved for his kids, but for commitment to his community as well.
He took his dedication to another level when he decided to become a varsity volleyball coach for his town, even though he was not a school employee and both of his children had graduated. He fought tooth and nail for every positive thing he tried to do for those girls. He started their seventh- and eighth-grade programs so they would no longer be behind their opponents. He assisted with the founding of their booster club to buy equipment they couldn't get the school to purchase. For years, he has been responsible for finding his own coaches, as well as having to call around and get games for his kids to play. I've held a few coaching positions and think all this may just be a little above and beyond the job description (and the meager pay).
All of that aside, the injustice lies in the fact that for the past several years he has been trying to secure a job teaching in positions that have opened in the school that he is qualified for. Not only would they not consider him for any of the jobs, they would not even grant him an interview. But let's make sure we do hire a volleyball coach from another school district and let her teach for a couple years at LaBrae while still coaching volleyball at another school. She will be taking his job for this fall's season. The problem with that situation is that it took word of mouth for it to get back to him that after 12 years, he would no longer be the head coach for the program he loved. I'm not sure how that is fair treatment to a man who has been nothing but loyal to his hometown. If this is how people in this community are treated, it sure doesn't sound like a place I want to move my family to or pay for my kid to attend.
I just want to say that I am sorry that future generations at LaBrae aren't going to be able to experience the pleasure of having Dennis Seger as their coach or their teacher. I appreciate the time, effort, dedication and sacrifices he made for those teams, programs and that school. I am mostly sorry for my alma mater's treatment of him.
CRISTINA R. PINTER
Youngstown
Block watches are changing
EDITOR:
There is an old saying that if it's not broke, don't fix it. Unfortunately the same cannot be said of the block watch program. The original idea was to help one's neighborhood by watching out for crime and call the police if one saw something wrong. The block watch slogan was "take a bite out of crime."
The block watches are now more of a political group than a crime prevention group. They no longer drive around the neighborhoods looking for crime, but instead have a monthly meeting and complain about what is wrong with the city and who they should all vote for in an election.
Some people have even taken to join a block watch group with the thought of using it for support in the future to try and make it into politics. So it is suggested that these groups go back to crime prevention and maybe forming programs for all the children who roam the streets to give them something to do instead of looking for trouble. Maybe then there would be less crime in the city.
JAMES D. VAUGHN II
Youngstown