CHS Basketball Coach Under Fire for Criticism

Solicitor Jennifer Dambeck at Monday’s night’s Spring Cove School board meeting announced a motion on the agenda to terminate a non-professional employee of the district would be tabled, as that employee has requested a school board hearing.

The non-professional employee is thought to be Central varsity boys’ basketball coach Reggie Nevins, whose remarks to a local newspaper following the team’s loss to Huntingdon on Feb. 23 upset the District 6 committee and the Spring Cove School Board.

Following the loss to Huntingdon in the District 6 Class 4A final, Nevins said he was upset that the Dragons had to play Tyrone on Thursday, Feb. 21, and turn right around and play Huntingdon two days later. A snowstorm pushed the Tyrone game back one day from Feb. 20.

Nevins was quoted in the Altoona Mirror as saying that just one day between games was a “very poor job by our district committee. It’s bad enough that we only get one team to go to states, but then to come back here a day and a half after you already played, I think is just ridiculous. I know they say they care about the kids, but obviously they couldn’t care less about the kids. We got a whole week next week, and we could have played any day at any venue.”

Nevins, a retired teacher who has coached Central basketball for 27 seasons, has won 452 games, the most by a boys’ coach in Blair County history.

Approximately 20 supporters of Nevins were in attendance Monday evening. A petition to “Keep Coach Nevins” can be found online at https://www.thepetitionsite.com.

Nevins told the Morrisons Cove Herald that “the support my family has received is unbelievable. We are beyond thankful and terribly emotional over the situation. Hopefully the meeting will take place soon and we can get beyond this. It’s taking a toll on so many people.”

The public hearing will be scheduled later.

Nevins is a sports correspondent for the Herald.

Buildings and Grounds

Buildings and grounds improvements were discussed at Monday’s meeting. Those changes and improvements throughout the district included asbestos abatement projects, new HVAC units, generator contracts, lawn and field care maintenance and new LED lighting.

The board unanimously passed motions to approve the Project Development Proposal with Allegheny Mountain Research, Inc., for an asbestos abatement project retroactive to Feb. 11, and to award the bid to KLA Roofing & Construction LLC for asbestos abatement at Central High School (approximately 22,000 square feet) and Spring Cove Middle School (approximately 8,200 square feet) with a total base cost of $98,222 to be paid from the Capital Reserve fund.

The board also unanimously approved the Act 39 Amendment with Trane Building Services for replacement of the HVAC units at Martinsburg Elementary School including library HVAC Unit replacement, first-floor classroom HVAC unit ventilators and teachers’ lounge HVAC along with the first-floor office and stage. A five-year planned maintenance agreement with Cummins Sales and Service for the district's generators was also approved at a cost of $5,088.

The board also approved motions to authorize the district administration to enter into an agreement with Gartland Lawn Care to provide lawn services for 2019-20 school year at a cost of $9,000, and enter into a five-year agreement with Oakes’ Lawn Mowing Service to provide lawn mowing and trimming services beginning May 1, 2019, and ending April 30, 2024, at a base cost of $1,425 and any additional mowing/trimming charges for main campuses and athletic fields.

Superintendent Dr. Betsy Baker thanked Valley Rural Electric for its donation of time and equipment to install LED pole lights along the drive to Spring Cove Middle School.

Mock Trial Team

Dr. Baker also recognized the Central High School mock trial team for its recent victory at regional competition which qualified it to advance to state competition in Harrisburg. This will be the last state competition for trial team advisor Brad Heuston, who will be resigning following the event. The board did, however, unanimously approve Heuston to fill the position of varsity head girls' volleyball coach for the 2019 season at a salary of $3,106.

Dr. Baker announced kindergarten registration is underway with 109 students currently registered. Any eligible students not registered may still do so through the school district’s website. She also announced the district’s latest issue of Braggin’ about the Dragons newsletter has been printed and should be delivered to homes this week.

There was also a closed-door session held by the school board for personnel purposes both prior to and following Monday’s meeting.

The next regular school board meeting will be held Monday, April 15, at the school district administration office boardroom.