Almost five months have passed since the Gettysburg Area High School Warriors ended its 2024 season. Spring workouts were started, paused, and then started again. The summer 2024 camp schedule is still not finalized. All because a coach has not yet been hired.
Tuesday’s school board meeting ended without any additional clarity on the situation.
Frustrated parents and athletes have pleaded with the board during the last three meetings to rehire Coach Matt Heiser, who has been at the team’s helm since 2012. Heiser’s supporters, including many of his current and former athletes, say he is a student-focused coach who supports players in several aspects of their young lives.
Some parents believe Heiser’s status is in limbo because board members, specifically Tim Seigman and Michael Dickerson, have a personal vendetta against the coach. During Tuesday night’s meeting, one parent even claimed to read text messages between the board members and community members that were critical of Heiser. However, when the Connection requested copies of those messages, the supposed recipient refused to share them.
As is typically the case with personnel issues, board members remain tight-lipped on the “why” behind Heiser’s delay of game; but Monday night several board members questioned the “how.”
Comments
Board member Al Moyer kicked off elected official comments by stating the school’s recent decision to allow Fairfield Area High School football players to play on the Gettysburg team should have had nothing to do with the school’s hiring process. The district posted a position on its website in early March for a “head football coach to lead our newly formed cooperative program.”
“I think we should stop saying the Fairfield co-op has anything to do with not renewing our current football coach,” Moyer said. “That just causes animosity amongst the kids; that’s unnecessary.”
Moyer, a former school superintendent, also urged the board to trust the administration to hire coaches. He also advocated for coaches to know if they will return to the program within two weeks of a season’s end.
Board member Alice Broadway said allowing coaches to lead programs without a contract is a possible liability. To remedy this, Broadway echoed Moyer’s call for contracts to be issued as soon as possible. She made a similar plea in August 2024.
Broadway and Moyer focused on process without sharing thoughts on Heiser himself. Board Member Michelle Smyers took a different approach. She said her opinion of Heiser was “tainted” by emails she received shortly after joining the board in 2021.
“I think I made a mistake originally in taking the word of a few people here,” she said.
Smyers said the students’ emails and comments changed her mind about Heiser. She criticized several board members, calling Dickerson out by name.
Heiser declined to run after-school lifting sessions beginning in early March since he had not yet been named coach. The district hired WellSpan staff to fill the gap for $350 per day for two days per week, Superintendent Jason Perrin said.
Board member Ryan Morris said two days a week is not enough. He volunteered to supervise the students. Solicitor Brooke Say said the supervisor must be properly trained.
Next Step
Assistant Superintendent Dr. Jeffrey Matzner, who will be the district superintendent in July, said the district hopes to begin interviewing coaching candidates next week. Perrin said he hopes to present a name for consideration at the April 7 meeting.
Featured image caption: James Gettys Elementary students performed at the recent Gettysburg Area School District (GASD) board meeting. Pictured from left are: Krystal Nolte, James Gettys music teacher, students Caden Gaston, Auri Sainer, Rowan Sainer, Jaelynn West, Nolan Gaston, Quinn Gaston and Elizabeth Hiller, and James Gettys Principal Ted Wells. (Photo Courtesy of GASD)
Alex J. Hayes has spent almost two decades in the Adams County news business. He is passionate about sharing stories focused on the people in our communities and following local governments in an age when few journalists report on their meetings. Alex is also a freelance writer for several other publications in South Central Pennsylvania. Alex encourages readers to contact him at ahayes83@gmail.com.
I always appreciate Alex’s reporting
Always appreciate Alex’s reporting