Couple target 2 on school board

2/23/2002

HILLSDALE - A couple suing the Litchfield school board because their son was ruled academically ineligible to play basketball are trying to recall two board members.

Candy and Robert Miller want to remove board President Ken Blonde and Harold Ferry. They claim that as members of the curriculum committee, Mr. Blonde and Mr. Ferry recommended to the full board that Robbie Miller be declared academically ineligible for basketball after he failed a dual enrollment class. The teenager was taking a college business class online from Jackson Community College while he was still in high school.

The county elections commission will meet March 4 to rule on the language included in the recall petition. If approved, the Millers must collect 199 signatures of registered voters demanding a recall election.

School Superintendent John Chandler said he believes the matter was dealt with correctly. He said young Miller was declared academically ineligible after he failed the class. But the boy's parents say the district didn't comply with state law regarding post-secondary education classes. They are asking a Circuit Court judge to force the district to comply with the law.

The lawsuit claims the Litchfield district did not provide counseling, a support teacher, and the required information covering dual enrollment class options.