BOURBON - The Triton School Board Monday unanimously voted to suspend Triton High School boys varsity basketball coach Mike McBride from his position for the remainder of this season.

The decision was met by applause from a crowd of parents and basketball players gathered at Monday's standing-room-only meeting to call for McBride's removal, claiming he verbally abused and humiliated students on the basketball team during practices and at games.

"There were two games in a row that my son was in the locker room throwing up because his nerves are shot over this man," Jill Sweet, mother of one of the Triton players, told the board. "He's missed a day and a half of school because of his nerves."

"He yells at us, brings us down and makes fun of us," said team member Chad Kaufman. "If he isn't gone after this year, you guys aren't going to have a team to play for you next year. We only have four games left, but I don't even think we can take it that long. Something has to be done now."

Laurie Cooper, mother of a Triton basketball player, said she is concerned about the long-term effects she fears players will suffer from as a result of the alleged treatment by McBride.

"My concern is, one of these days, one of these boys is going to lose it and something bad is going to happen," Cooper said.

School board member Larry Lemler read a letter signed by 10 members of the Triton High School basketball team. The letter asked the board to remove McBride from the coaching position and replace him with assistant coach Jason Groves.

McBride was not present at Monday's meeting, and no one present spoke on his behalf. A request to remove McBride as coach came before the board last year, but the board took no formal action.

Monday, board member Dick Trowbridge made the motion to suspend McBride, effective today. The motion was seconded by board member Dave Shively.

"There are some fine young boys there being taken advantage of," said Trowbridge. "We have got to back the kids."

Board President Steve Blackford said Groves will step in to coach the team for the remainder of the season.

Kaufman's father, Roger Kaufman, thanked the board for their decision. "This wasn't about Mike McBride," Roger said. "This was about the kids."

In other news, the board approved a $221,500 bid from Engineering Systems Inc. for the Triton High School auditorium lighting and sound project. The bid represents a $78,500 savings from the original $300,000 estimate for the project. Project Manager David Worthman, of Schmidt Associates Inc., said the savings were due to some circuitry and wiring which can be reused for the project.

Triton Schools Superintendent Ted Chittum said work for the project will begin in June, after school closes for the summer. The project will bring the school's auditorium lighting and sound system into compliance with insurance standards.

The board also approved a $116,145 project to resurface the high school track and renovate the tennis courts. Chittum told the board a $50,000 grant was secured by Triton Athletic Director Mike Byron for the project through the K21 Foundation. Chittum said the grant money must be used this summer or the money will go back to the foundation for use in other projects.

Also, the board approved the creation of a new position at Triton Junior/Senior High School. A remediation/credit recovery instructor will begin work next fall. Chittum said the new job will include helping students meet education standards and earn credits needed to graduate. Chittum said the job is funded through remediation money the school system receives from the state to improve students' performance on education assessments. [[In-content Ad]]