Many people in the Averill Park Central School District are voicing their concerns about the administration’s decision to replace the girls lacrosse coach.

There are more than 1,700 signatures on a petition on change.org seeking that Derek Minkler to be retained as coach.

One of the persons who spoke at Monday’s Board of Education meeting was his daughter.

“There were countless evenings that I spent not having my dad at, at games because he was devoting the time and effort to other people’s children. He was staying after because kids needed extra help,” she said.

She also accused of the district of showing favoritism among certain teams in the athletic department and lacrosse is not one of them. 
Other speakers said that Minkler is an “amazing” man and coach.

Minkler would still teach at the school, even if he is no longer the coach. 

The district sent a statement to NewsChannel 13’s Rodger Wyland previously that said it could not comment on the issue.

“As this is a personnel matter pertaining to a particular employee, the District is prohibited from commenting on any specifics due to federal and state laws regarding privacy rights which require confidentiality in all such matters.”