Switcheroo: Glen Rock Schools Have New Basketball Coach After Parent Protest: Board Prez

GLEN ROCK, NJ — After controversy raged at a Glen Rock Board of Education meeting Monday night, students and parents will get their pick for the girls’ varsity basketball coach. READ MORE: Fireworks Fly At Glen Rock School Board Meeting

Hundreds of community members signed a petition this week supporting Junior Varsity Girls’ Basketball Coach Sara Wolman at Glen Rock High School to be considered for the position of varsity coach.

Another candidate was chosen for the spot at Monday night’s school board meeting. Parents and volunteers were angry, saying the person chosen was from the superintendent’s former district and was placed on the agenda at the last minute.

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At the meeting, board member Elizabeth Carr said she was resigning, citing a lack of trust, and left.

On Thursday, school board president Dr. Damali Robinson announced that the parents’ pick, longtime coach Sara Wolman, has been offered and has accepted the position.

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Robinson wrote, in part:

“Dear Glen Rock Community Members,

“We, the members of the Glen Rock Board of Education, wish to acknowledge the concerns that were raised by parents, student-athletes, and community members at the September 23, 2024 Board of Education meeting. Given the feedback that the community raised, the Board has begun to take steps to address those concerns in order to ensure equity, consistency, and transparency for staff, students, and community members.

“Firstly, the Board would like to announce that Sara Wolman has been offered and accepted the position of Head Coach of the Girls Varsity Basketball Team.
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“Additionally, as Dr. Brett Charleston mentioned in his recent letter to high school parents, the Board of Education authorized creating the position of a second Head Coach for Winter Track & Field. This decision results in two Head Coaches for the Winter Track program–one for the Boys team and one for the Girls team. The two existing assistant coaching positions will remain and will be shared by the teams as deemed necessary.

“While the Board recognizes that the District has room for growth–as all organizations do–we think it is important to acknowledge the recent accomplishments of our students and faculty. This past Monday, Hamilton Elementary was recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School, as the High School was in 2018. This is an honor regarded as one of the highest a school or district can achieve. Only nine public schools receive this honor in New Jersey each year, and we are proud that two of our schools have now earned this recognition.

“This past Monday, our Assistant Superintendent, Mr. Van Nest, and district supervisors presented scores from the spring 2024 NJSLA Assessment. As you can see from the presentation, our scores, particularly in math, continue to outperform the state average and have improved dramatically these past several years.

“…. one of the Board’s goals this year is to begin the certification process with the New Jersey School Boards Association, aiming to achieve certification within the next two years. Board Certification recognizes the full board’s commitment to effective governance and continuous improvement through training … The Board unanimously recognized the need to improve cohesion and working toward a common goal. Board
members believe that achieving certification will strengthen our District and enhance relationships with stakeholders.”

Prior Reporting

The petition about the coach hiring from Monday says, “On September 23rd, 2024, the Glen Rock Board of Education approved a new Head Coach for the Glen Rock High School Girls Varsity position. This was done without any proper consideration for the current Junior Varsity Coach, Coach Sara Wolman. Coach Sara, a GRHS alum and former collegiate player, has been involved with the High School basketball program and has helped with the youth league programs for over a decade.”

The petition adds, “The other coach that was chosen for the job however has no experience living, playing, or attending a Glen Rock school. Initially, when the Varsity Head Coach position was vacated, the Athletic Director failed to contact Coach Sara about the opening…”

The petition received 531 signatures by Wednesday afternoon.

At the meeting, students spoke in support of Wolman as well — as did her mother, a past board member.

One student said, to applause, “We are a team of women and it would be empowering to be led by another, most especially Coach Sara.”

Parent Stephanie Kivett Ohnegian complained that the superintendent has been hiring staff members from his past district, including the proposed varsity basketball coach.

She called Wolman “One of the best coaches my daughters has ever had for both basketball and softball” and rattled off a list of Pequannock staff members brought to Glen Rock, saying the superintendent (Brett Charleston, hired in 2019), had brought them in, to the detriment of the district.

Watch the meeting here, including comments starting at 1:01.


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