Katie Krier
Contributing Writer
Students and their parents filled the room at the April 18 Braham Area School Board meeting in support of girls basketball head coach Brittany Lakeberg.
During the open forum portion of the meeting, Lakeberg addressed the board regarding her recent termination as the girls basketball head coach after the 2015-16 season. She explained she was informed two weeks ago of her termination and has received an overwhelming amount of support. Although she was not there to campaign for herself, she made her thoughts clear, stating that when she started as head coach two years ago, she “entered the program that I feel was doomed to fail from the beginning.”
Following Lakeberg’s tearful words, parents and students took turns having their say regarding the matter. Those who were in support for her, who have daughters on the team, said that the team was “more successful than they should have done,” and at games they saw remarkable players who were learning how to play the game. “It was her team to change,” noted another parent.
Students then spoke up, noting that Lakeberg was a great role model, mentor and coach. Another student said: “I cannot give enough thanks for what these two (Lakeberg and her husband) have done for me. She teaches not only life lessons, but made me a better person.”
Despite the large support for Lakeberg, there was opposition. One parent noted passive aggressive behaviors and referenced the anonymous survey given to the team where the students were able to be truthful. This survey, many noted, is what they believed was the reasoning for Lakeberg’s termination.
Braham School Board Chair Steven Eklund addressed the group and informed them there were many factors for the decision, and the survey was not the sole reason. He made it a point that the board members do not take decisions like this lightly.
With a 4-1 vote, the board approved the consideration of the nonrenewal of Lakeberg as the head girls basketball coach beginning the 2016-17 season.
In other news:
• The district was notified that the Minnesota Twins organization has awarded a grant to Braham Schools for $10,000 to be used on fencing and dugouts for the new ball fields. Mike Thompson wrote the grant and was supported by the BACK committee.
• Peterson Companies Inc. resumed outdoor construction activities April 4. This causes increased traffic and involves many installation projects of grass, fencing, scoreboards, bleachers, etc. “Things are going very well on the exterior portion,” Superintendent Ken Gagner noted. The indoor portion begins Monday, June 6.
• The next Braham Area School Board meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday, May 16.