FORT SCOTT — Fort Scott High School head football coach Johnathan Stark told the USD 234 Board of Education on Nov. 9 that board member Mike Miles texted the father of a Paola player before the Tigers’ season opener, criticizing Stark’s coaching and describing the team’s players and plays. Stark said the messages were then shared with Paola’s coaching staff.
“He criticized my coaching, saying I won’t use my skill players and I get in my own way,” Stark said during the public forum. Stark said Miles also wrote that the Tigers’ line was “weak and unproven” and suggested how Paola could defend the team. Stark also said that two years ago Miles pushed to have the previous head coach fired, texted “mission accomplished” when it happened, and resigned from the board to seek the coaching job before later returning to the board.
Stark said that when the board learned of the messages, Miles was asked to resign and refused. “I can’t speak to every motivation behind his actions, but I can certainly speak to what those actions demonstrate,” Stark said. Miles has since sent a letter asking for forgiveness, Stark said, but “an apology failing to admit any wrong and without honesty means very little.” “I have not contacted parents or players,” Stark said, adding that one person’s actions do not necessarily reflect the whole board.
Miles told the Bourbon County Monitor that the messages were regrettable but never intended to hurt the program, and called the exchange private football talk, not confidential district information. Miles confirmed being given the choice of resigning or having the matter brought to the board, and intends to stay on the board. Miles also confirmed applying for the coaching job after the previous staff was let go, saying that decision was “entirely separate” from the board’s decisions about the coaching staff, and denied sending a “mission accomplished” text. The Monitor reported it has not seen that text.
Earlier in the meeting, Board President David Stewart told the board it had received an email from a Paola patron about a board member’s text conversation about the football team. “I thought that was inappropriate,” Stewart said, noting the board has no policy on board member expectations. Stewart did not name the board member, and the board took no action. Fort Scott High School Principal Jeff Johnson and Assistant Principal Josh Regan also spoke in support of Stark during the public forum.
Read the district’s recap of the Nov. 9 meeting, or read the meeting transcript.