Solution found in cheerleader controversy
Deirdre Newman
NEWPORT BEACH -- The end to an unusual controversy over pompoms at
Newport Harbor High School came Tuesday when Principal Michael Vossen
announced the 17 girls who didn’t make the original teams will have to
try out again.
The late afternoon announcement upheld an independent committee’s
recommendation to let the original judging decision stand and hold an
extra tryout to fill two more spots on both the varsity and junior
varsity teams. Vossen did not announce when the new tryouts will be held.
The cheer controversy ended as it began with cheerleaders and parents
divided between those who wanted all the girls to be made cheerleaders
and those who wanted only the ones selected originally to earn the
privilege.
“I think he made the right decision,” said Dana Odell, whose daughter
Katie made the first cut. “I think it went too far. Some parents got too
upset, and some girls expected too much.”
But some of the cheerleaders who didn’t make it the first time
insisted they had been wronged.
“It’s not fair,” a tearful Katie Stephens said.
Stephens’ mom, Kim, said she would consider filing a complaint against
the decision after digesting the news.
Assistant Supt. Jaime Castellanos said the Newport-Mesa Unified School
District will deal with lawsuits if they arise and will work toward
making the cheerleading judging process “crystal clear” to prevent
fiascoes such as this in the future.
After the announcement, Castellanos also defended Vossen, who has been
widely criticized by some of the cheerleaders and their parents for
wavering back and forth.
“I think [he] did everything possible,” Castellanos said. “It’s easy
for people on the outside to criticize” his decisions.
Castellanos also said there are some philosophical differences between
school administrators, cheer coach Lisa Callahan and the cheerleading
advisor, Jennifer Cilderman, which need to be worked out.
As the 17 girls who didn’t make it the first time reacted to the news
with tears and hugs, some questioned whether they will want to weather
another emotional experience and audition again.
“I’ve already not made it once,” Jessica Cochens said. “And after all
this, I don’t know if I want to deal with this again.”
The controversy began in late November when the cheerleading rosters
were posted and Callahan told administrators that she had witnessed
irregularities in the judging that distorted the final results.
The administrators and Callahan agreed that the best resolution would
be to let all 48 girls who tried out be on the junior varsity and varsity
squads. Vossen sent out a letter with his seal of approval for the
decision.
But Mike Johnston, the parent of a cheerleader who made the original
cut, and a handful of other parents complained to the district that the
decision violated the rules in the cheerleading handbook that state all
judging decisions are final. An independent committee was set up to
investigate. Practices were suspended and friendships among cheerleaders
and parents ruptured as the controversy raged on.
The committee eventually determined that the judges acted fairly,
Castellanos said.
When Vossen announced the ad hoc committee’s recommendation on Dec.
21, there was such an emotional backlash from the parents of girls who
didn’t make it the first time that he allegedly agreed to let all the
cheerleaders vote and circulate a petition. Many of them wanted to keep
all 48 girls on the two teams.
But on Dec. 28, he sent out a letter to the contrary, saying he would
only accept the cheerleaders’ opinions.
After listening to them Monday, Vossen decided to go with the
committee’s recommendation.
Johnston, the most outspoken in allowing only the original
cheerleaders on the team, said he thought Vossen’s decision was the only
fair resolution.
“It’s a tempest in a teapot, but rules should be followed,” Johnston
said.
Despite the split opinions on Vossen’s decision, what everyone on both
sides could agree on is the shock at seeing the controversy balloon into
a hullabaloo that cast a negative glare on the school.
“This is absurd,” said Judy Richonne, whose daughter Hillary made the
original junior varsity squad.
Johnston’s daughter, Jacky, who made the varsity squad, said she was
relieved the ordeal was over and expressed optimism about the
cheerleaders’ ability to put this nightmare behind them and move on.
“I don’t think it will take more than a week,” Jacky said.
* Deirdre Newman covers education. She may be reached at (949)
574-4221 or by e-mail at o7 deirdre.newman@latimes.comf7 .
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