By Bruce Rolfe
With an investigation into complaints against Climax-Scotts varsity football coach Tyler Langs entering its eighth week with no end in sight, the Climax-Scotts Board of Education faced an overflow audience of approximately 35 people at Monday’s Board of Education meeting, including many who offered support for Langs.
Langs, also the dean of students and athletic director at C-S, is currently on paid administrative leave from his employment within the district in all capacities.
The school district has only stated there have been complaints from parents, students, and community members regarding the current football coach and the school district is not able to comment on the allegations because the investigation is a personnel matter.
The local school district engaged an independent investigator to conduct a thorough and unbiased review.
The Climax Crescent filed a Freedom of Information Act letter with the school district November 3, asking for actual complaints, including artificial intelligence generated complaints against Langs, that triggered an investigation and led to Tyler Langs being placed on paid administrative leave as the varsity football coach, dean of students and athletic director.
An email from C-S School District Superintendent Doug Newington December 15 informed The Climax Crescent that the FOIA request has been denied because the investigation into Tyler Langs is ongoing. The letter from the superintendent adds, “furthermore, to the extent that the complaints that triggered the investigation into Tyler Langs were communicated with attorney Erin Walz, they are exempt from disclosure under FOIA Section 13(1)(b).”
Board President Sue Reichert said because the district hired an outside investigator the board needs to remain neutral during the investigation and will make a decision based on the investigator’s findings. She adds the board did not anticipate the investigation would take more then two weeks.
Most of the six people who spoke during public forum at Monday’s school board meeting offered a picture of how Langs has been missed in his daily role as dean of students, athletic director and overall support of the student body.
One audience member was concerned with the board’s procedure when going into closed session at the October 20 meeting.
The school district did allow Langs the opportunity to watch his daughter play in her first varsity basketball game in the season opener December 12 at C-S High School.
Langs received numerous hugs from his football players, other students and staff as well as community members, who hoped he would be back soon.
C-S Jr./Sr. High School secretary Caitlyn Tiller felt allowing Langs the opportunity to watch his daughter play in her first varsity game was something the students, staff, and community needed as they wait for an answer to the lengthy investigation.
“That response from our students speaks volumes about who Tyler is, and the impact he has had on our school. Kids don’t fake that. You don’t see that kind of reaction without trust, consistency, and genuine care,” said Tiller.
Tiller told the school board the additional workload and consistent calls and questions she and Jr./Sr. High School secretary and Athletic Director secretary Angela Gilbert have faced since Langs has been placed on paid administrative leave has been exhausting and taxing, not just on the two secretaries but other staff.
“Many of us feel like we are truly at the end of our rope. His absence is felt daily by staff, by students, and we need him back,” said Tiller, who fought back tears.
Gilbert praised the board for its past work and for helping get two bond proposals passed. However, her confidence in the board has diminished as the investigation dragged into an eighth week leaving the school district without an athletic director and dean of students.
Gilbert said she was speaking for the students, who continuously have asked her “when is Coach T. (Langs) going to be back.”
Gilbert said the impact of Langs’ absence is being felt within the student body outside of his role as dean of students and athletic director and coach.
“The number of students that I see walking the halls, with their shoulders down and head down, because they did not see his face in the hallways, giving them a high five, asking them how their day was. The students that have no fathers or don’t have strong leadership at home, look for those conversations with Coach T. Seeing them sitting alone at lunch, breaks my heart,” said Gilbert.
Gilbert said a culture has been built at C-S and has been an attraction for out-of-district families to bring their children to C-S through School of Choice. She feels Langs has been a big part of that culture, impacting students.
“I’ve had parents crying to me in tears because they’ve seen such a change in their students. Because of our district, because of the culture that has made. And my fear is that if a decision isn’t made soon, and that our district is not put first in any decision making, the students of these halls, that culture is going to change. And that those kids that need us, we’re not going to be able to be there for them. And that breaks my heart,” said Gilbert, fighting back tears.
Jr. High Language Arts teacher Kendra Rork, who has been a teacher in the local school district since 2003, said the school and community have been like her family, but for the past two months it has not felt like a family without Langs.
She said she understood the school district has to conduct a thorough investigation. However, she struggled with how the situation is being handled.
Rork said the school board’s silence has brought frustration and fear.
The veteran school teacher said she’s aware there are specific procedures for the school district to follow. She said she’s always trusted that process but no longer does.
“I’m fearful will someone who doesn’t like my teaching style or want to get back at me for a bad grade, find something that could be used against me for months? Will it be kept a secret so people will gossip and wonder about my character? I didn’t feel that way before. I’ve lost faith in the process,” said Rork.
“We need to keep coaches, staff, and administrators accountable for any missteps. But, it needs to be done in accordance with, I don’t know the policy with district and state procedures. It needs to be in a way that doesn’t disrupt the students and teachers. It needs to be in a way that protects the accused professional and personal reputation until they are proven guilty. It needs to be done in a way that does not cause fear or frustration among staff and students. I sincerely hope that this board can reach a speedy, fair resolution soon,” adds Rork
With an investigation into complaints against Climax-Scotts varsity football coach Tyler Langs entering its eighth week with no end in sight, the Climax-Scotts Board of Education faced an overflow audience of approximately 35 people at Monday’s Board of Education meeting, including many who offered support for Langs.
Langs, also the dean of students and athletic director at C-S, is currently on paid administrative leave from his employment within the district in all capacities.
The school district has only stated there have been complaints from parents, students, and community members regarding the current football coach and the school district is not able to comment on the allegations because the investigation is a personnel matter.
The local school district engaged an independent investigator to conduct a thorough and unbiased review.
The Climax Crescent filed a Freedom of Information Act letter with the school district November 3, asking for actual complaints, including artificial intelligence generated complaints against Langs, that triggered an investigation and led to Tyler Langs being placed on paid administrative leave as the varsity football coach, dean of students and athletic director.
An email from C-S School District Superintendent Doug Newington December 15 informed The Climax Crescent that the FOIA request has been denied because the investigation into Tyler Langs is ongoing. The letter from the superintendent adds, “furthermore, to the extent that the complaints that triggered the investigation into Tyler Langs were communicated with attorney Erin Walz, they are exempt from disclosure under FOIA Section 13(1)(b).”
Board President Sue Reichert said because the district hired an outside investigator the board needs to remain neutral during the investigation and will make a decision based on the investigator’s findings. She adds the board did not anticipate the investigation would take more then two weeks.
Most of the six people who spoke during public forum at Monday’s school board meeting offered a picture of how Langs has been missed in his daily role as dean of students, athletic director and overall support of the student body.
One audience member was concerned with the board’s procedure when going into closed session at the October 20 meeting.
The school district did allow Langs the opportunity to watch his daughter play in her first varsity basketball game in the season opener December 12 at C-S High School.
Langs received numerous hugs from his football players, other students and staff as well as community members, who hoped he would be back soon.
C-S Jr./Sr. High School secretary Caitlyn Tiller felt allowing Langs the opportunity to watch his daughter play in her first varsity game was something the students, staff, and community needed as they wait for an answer to the lengthy investigation.
“That response from our students speaks volumes about who Tyler is, and the impact he has had on our school. Kids don’t fake that. You don’t see that kind of reaction without trust, consistency, and genuine care,” said Tiller.
Tiller told the school board the additional workload and consistent calls and questions she and Jr./Sr. High School secretary and Athletic Director secretary Angela Gilbert have faced since Langs has been placed on paid administrative leave has been exhausting and taxing, not just on the two secretaries but other staff.
“Many of us feel like we are truly at the end of our rope. His absence is felt daily by staff, by students, and we need him back,” said Tiller, who fought back tears.
Gilbert praised the board for its past work and for helping get two bond proposals passed. However, her confidence in the board has diminished as the investigation dragged into an eighth week leaving the school district without an athletic director and dean of students.
Gilbert said she was speaking for the students, who continuously have asked her “when is Coach T. (Langs) going to be back.”
Gilbert said the impact of Langs’ absence is being felt within the student body outside of his role as dean of students and athletic director and coach.
“The number of students that I see walking the halls, with their shoulders down and head down, because they did not see his face in the hallways, giving them a high five, asking them how their day was. The students that have no fathers or don’t have strong leadership at home, look for those conversations with Coach T. Seeing them sitting alone at lunch, breaks my heart,” said Gilbert.
Gilbert said a culture has been built at C-S and has been an attraction for out-of-district families to bring their children to C-S through School of Choice. She feels Langs has been a big part of that culture, impacting students.
“I’ve had parents crying to me in tears because they’ve seen such a change in their students. Because of our district, because of the culture that has made. And my fear is that if a decision isn’t made soon, and that our district is not put first in any decision making, the students of these halls, that culture is going to change. And that those kids that need us, we’re not going to be able to be there for them. And that breaks my heart,” said Gilbert, fighting back tears.
Jr. High Language Arts teacher Kendra Rork, who has been a teacher in the local school district since 2003, said the school and community have been like her family, but for the past two months it has not felt like a family without Langs.
She said she understood the school district has to conduct a thorough investigation. However, she struggled with how the situation is being handled.
Rork said the school board’s silence has brought frustration and fear.
The veteran school teacher said she’s aware there are specific procedures for the school district to follow. She said she’s always trusted that process but no longer does.
“I’m fearful will someone who doesn’t like my teaching style or want to get back at me for a bad grade, find something that could be used against me for months? Will it be kept a secret so people will gossip and wonder about my character? I didn’t feel that way before. I’ve lost faith in the process,” said Rork.
“We need to keep coaches, staff, and administrators accountable for any missteps. But, it needs to be done in accordance with, I don’t know the policy with district and state procedures. It needs to be in a way that doesn’t disrupt the students and teachers. It needs to be in a way that protects the accused professional and personal reputation until they are proven guilty. It needs to be done in a way that does not cause fear or frustration among staff and students. I sincerely hope that this board can reach a speedy, fair resolution soon,” adds Rork
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