Parents of students allegedly threatened by a volunteer boys basketball coach spoke at Monday’s Dawson Springs Board of Education meeting to share their concerns.
The volunteer coach, 29-year-old Judd Tyson, was arrested on September 17 and charged with two counts of third-degree terroristic threatening and released a few hours later, according to the Hopkins County Jail website.
In a written statement last week, Superintendent Leonard Whalen said the coach’s volunteer status had been suspended pending a full investigation, but did not disclose any specifics about the allegations of inappropriate comments or potential threats.
At Monday night’s Board meeting, longtime Dawson Springs resident David Walls said his son is no longer enrolled at the school, citing recent threats and antagonistic behavior by assistant coach Tyson.
click to download audioHe added that the following day, on September 4th, instead of Superintendent Whalen speaking with his son, Coach Tyson and Coach Scott, a Kentucky State Police officer in full uniform, spoke with his son during instructional time.
click to download audioHe said, as a private investigator, the accused should never interview the victim and criticized Whalen for not separating Coach Tyson from the accusers after the allegations.
click to download audioHe said Whalen and the administration’s slow response, and allowing Tyson to remain on campus until September 5, contradicts the school’s claim that student safety is a priority.
click to download audioMelinda Walls, the stepmother of the child, explained what “curb stomping” means.
click to download audioAnother parent of a student allegedly threatened by Tyson also spoke to the board, while a separate parent requested better safety measures for students during school dismissal because of traffic concerns.
Following the remarks, Superintendent Whalen said he and the Board take these concerns seriously and that student safety, both in and out of school, is their top priority. He also thanked parents for voicing their concerns at the meeting.
