Dear Editor,
I had the honor of attending Barton County Community College from 1987 to 1989. While there, I participated on the dance line under the direction of Debbie Warren and also served as student body president under the leadership of Dr. Mary Misegadis.
Both of these women were instrumental in shaping my life in a very positive way. It is with great concern that I learned of the recent firing of Debbie Warren as the BCCC dance and cheer coach after 27 years of service. While I do not know the specifics of the termination, it is concerning to note that BCCC President Dr. Carl Heilman and his staff have showed such a lack of interest in responding to the numerous complaints regarding this decision.
My father served as an administrator for USD 212 for nearly three decades. He taught me that along the way there will always be personality difference, clashes of will and power struggles, But, if you always keep the students a priority, you will make the right decision. Students and former alumni are coming forward, by the hundreds, asking Dr. Heilman and the trustees to overturn this decision. It’s not too late for them to do the right thing and reverse this decision, that would be in the best interest of BCCC, its students and alumni.
Or the BCCC administration can elect to keep going down the path of stone walling the local community, students and alumni, failing to address this issue at board meetings and likely meeting with their lawyers behind closed doors. And in turn we’ll rally the troops through our Facebook pages and contact many of the 2,400-plus dance and cheer alumni and solicit donations for a legal fund to fight this out in court.
If Debbie can teach 50 girls to high kick in unison for 27 years, you better believe we can still line up and kick any problem when the situation calls for it.
It’s time for leadership. It’s time for action. We’re waiting President Heilman.
It’s your move.
Tonja Vallin-Pfannenstiel,
Las Vegas, Nev.