School Board votes to put head girls’ basketball coach on administrative leave

BY SYDNEY HOOVER

The School Board unanimously voted to put Eudora High School head girls’ basketball coach Richard Ebel on administrative leave Monday evening.

“There was nothing illegal or needs investigating or anything like that. It was just time for a different direction for the program,” board President Eric Votaw said Monday night.

Votaw declined further comment on the details as to why Ebel was placed on leave. He also declined to comment on whether Ebel would be paid through the rest of his contract, but said the district was not contractually obligated to do so.

The board spent about an hour and a half in executive session with two matters on the agenda, followed by the vote regarding Ebel’s leave.

The recommended action states Ebel will be on leave for the remainder of the 2019-20 season, but does not give recommendations on future seasons. Votaw said he believes despite this, he doesn’t think Ebel would have intentions of returning to the program. He had no other role in the Eudora School District outside of coaching.

Ebel did not immediately respond to a Eudora Times’ email requesting comment Tuesday morning.

Ebel told the Lawrence Journal-World he was removed as head coach in late December.

Following Monday’s meeting, Votaw cited “philosophical differences” as the reasoning behind the removal, quoting a statement Ebel made to the Journal-World.

The head coach position will open for anyone to apply at the end of the current season. Brandon Parker, a physical education teacher at Eudora Middle School, will serve as interim head coach for the remainder of the season.

In other business, the School Board named its three applicants for its vacant board position after former board member Bryan Maring resigned in November due to his family moving out of state.

The board established details for applicant interviews, which will take place in the next few weeks.

“[We are] pleased with the individuals who have applied,” Votaw said during the meeting.

The applicants include Samantha Arredondo, Claire Harding and Belinda Rehmer. The board selected current board members Joseph Hurla, Mark Chrislip, and Becky Plate as interviewers for the position.

The new board member will be named at the next board meeting on Feb. 13.

Reach Sydney Hoover at eudoratimes@gmail.com.