November 08, 2024
BANGOR DAILY NEWS (BANGOR, MAINE

Board receives petition calling for Savage’s removal as coach

A petition demanding the immediate dismissal of Brewer High School varsity boys basketball coach Mark Savage was formally presented to the Brewer School Board Wednesday.

Brewer city councilor Bruce Johnson, a member of the group of parents seeking Savage’s removal, confirmed that he and others met with the school board Wednesday night.

“We met in executive session. We did have our meeting, the petition was delivered, and there will be a public school board meeting next week,” said Johnson. “I cannot get into the specifics of what was discussed.”

The school board is scheduled to meet at 7 p.m. Monday in the Brewer Middle School cafeteria. One of the items on the agenda is the annual vote on high school coaches’ contracts, which come up for renewal annually.

Johnson said he didn’t have the actual petition with him, but believed the group of 20 parents behind it collected approximately 500 signatures.

The group asked for Savage to step down in a meeting with Brewer High officials last fall. Savage, who also teaches physical and outdoor education at Brewer, refused and was supported by the administration.

The parents cited the need for a “positive environment for our athletes” in the petition. Johnson said their dissatisfaction does not result from wins and losses, but from “concern for the emotional well-being” of their children.

Savage won an Eastern Maine championship his first year at Brewer (1987-88) and has compiled a 93-97 record with the Witches.

Attempts to reach Brewer school superintendent Allan Snell for comment were unsuccessful.


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