Update (April 10):
NORTH LITTLE ROCK, AR – The North Little Rock school board decided early Friday morning to follow through with the district’s decision to fire high school football head coach Brad Bolding.
The following news release, issued by the North Little Rock School District shortly before 3 a.m. Friday, reveals details of the board’s decision:
The North Little Rock School District School Board voted during a procedural personnel hearing to terminate the employment of Brad Bolding, head football coach at North Little Rock High School, on recommendation of North Little Rock School District Superintendent Kelly Rodgers.
The vote by the seven-member Board was taken after an almost 9-hour hearing that began at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at the District’s administration building at 2700 Poplar St. in North Little Rock. Board members individually voted on five facts outlined in the termination recommendation from Rodgers.
“We are appreciative of the due process set forth for a personnel hearing like this and the time that the North Little Rock School District Board of Directors took out of their schedules to hear both sides,” Rodgers said. “This was a matter of an employee violating clearly set policies and procedures for financial reporting for our district and athlete recruitment set by the Arkansas Activities Association. These violations warranted his termination.”
North Little Rock School Board President Scott Miller led the Board in an executive session following the hearing to determine Bolding’s outcome.
“Tonight, we were presented with evidence that clearly supports Coach Bolding’s violations of district policies and procedures and recruitment regulations set by the Arkansas Activities Association, and so we took action we felt necessary,” Miller said.
“We are sensitive to the fact that this decision may be upsetting to some of our parents and students as Coach Bolding is an admired coach and mentor. My fellow board members and I hope that our community can heal from this situation and continue to focus on the most important thing – our students – particularly those athletes who played for Coach Bolding and have contributed to our award-winning program,” Miller said.
Rodgers said the district will begin an immediate search for a new head football coach to lead the district’s champion team.
“I am hopeful that our community can look to the future of our outstanding football program. Our district is growing, and we have many successful stories to share not only in athletics, but also in academics, music, drama and more. We will continue to provide our students with a world-class education and stellar athletic programs. We’re looking forward to continuing a winning tradition of North Little Rock high school football.”
Original story (April 9):
LITTLE ROCK, AR – Embattled North Little Rock football coach Brad Bolding got the chance to contest his firing before the public Thursday night.
As of 11 p.m., the hearing was still going on after several hours.