Wyoming Area School Board commends students for Veterans Day activities

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Lake-Lehman girls soccer eyeing next season after states semifinal loss

<p>YATESVILLE &#8212; The Pittston Area School Board voted to open its high school football coaching position at Tuesday night&#8217;s monthly meeting.</p><p>Coach Jim Norris has complied a 5-25 record in three seasons and was not in attendance at the meeting but spoke afterwards saying the district opens all head coaching positions after their respective seasons.</p><p>He said he will submit his application again for the 2017 season and proceed as normal.</p><p>The vote was unanimous among the school board members present at the meeting. Board member Joseph Kelly was absent.</p><p>Board President Kent Bratlee said a decision will be made on the position at next month&#8217;s public meeting, which could include bringing Norris back or beginning a search for a new coach.</p><p>Several players spoke in support of the coach at the meeting.</p><p>Walter Coles, a junior, said that the blame for the losses should be on the players and that Norris spends countless hours watching film and planning for each game.</p><p>&#8220;We were a young team last year, but it&#8217;s not on the coach,&#8221; he said. &#8220;He would be watching film after practices for about two hours, and all of his schemes on defense and offense were right. So, if anything, it&#8217;s on us, and we take full blame for it.</p><p>&#8220;But our offseason has started already, and we&#8217;re in the weight room and looking forward to next football season.&#8221;</p><p>Audience member Tim Coffay disagreed with Coles and focused on Norris&#8217;s wins and losses.</p><p>&#8220;His record is 5-25,&#8221; he said. &#8220;We had the easiest division in the world this year, and it does nothing.</p><p>&#8220;The man never respected any of our kids with what they want, or even the board, and yet he&#8217;s back. I want to know if this year you are going to entertain to have a new coach, a real coach? It&#8217;s up to you guys. &#8230; You guys are embarrassed and you&#8217;re going to stay embarrassed.&#8221;</p><p>Megan Galonis, a parent of one of the football players, told the school board members to decide what&#8217;s right for the players, the program and the school.</p><p>&#8220;You have to make a good decision here,&#8221; she said. &#8220;I don&#8217;t know what way is the good decision. I really don&#8217;t.&#8221;</p><p>School board member John Adonizio informed the audience that the board had a 22-page report about the program, and the board will study it carefully.</p><p>&#8220;We want to make the right decision for your children and for the community as far as safety, your health and etcetera,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Every facet of the football program, we have here. Just be confident, and trust us.&#8221;</p><p>In other business, school board members:</p><p>&#8226; Approved the district&#8217;s <a href="https://www.timesleader.com/news/local/598372/pittston-area-administration-presents-three-year-comprehensive-plan-at-board-meeting" target="_blank">Comprehensive Plan</a> for July 1, 2017, to June 30, 2020.</p><p>&#8226; Approved Kelly Smith as a school counselor and Elizabeth Mikitish as a science and math teacher.</p><style>
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<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/web1_JimNorris-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Norris </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/web1_JimNorris-1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Norris </caption0><photoCredit0>File Photo </photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><subheadMeta>Players speak in support of Norris</subheadMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Jimmy Fisher</p><p>jfisher@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><factboxMeta><p><strong>WHAT&#8217;S NEXT?</strong></p><p>The next Pittston Area School Board public meeting will be at 7 p.m. Dec. 20 in the high school library, 5 Stout St., Yatesville.</p></factboxMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Jimmy Fisher at 570-704-3972 or on Twitter @SD_JimmyFisher</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Pittston Area opens football coach’s job