Mar 16, 2006 By Amanda Clegg 2 min read

CALIFORNIA – Cheerleaders who turned out to support their coach walked away happy after the school board voted down a motion to open the head coach position at the high school during their regular meeting Wednesday evening. Four cheerleaders spoke in opposition of the motion, which would ultimately replace coach Kristine Doppelheuer.

“She has made us feel like we are athletes, not just a team,” cheerleader Hope Calhoun told the board. “I wanted to show my support.”

President Tom Russell said the board had heard complaints from the community about Doppelheuer’s coaching, but further investigation turned up nothing.

In other matters, after the board made bids for renovations to Booster Field a matter of record, Russell said the board is considering an option from California University of Pennsylvania to play at Adamson Stadium.

“This is a win-win for all of us,” Russell said. “We’re excited about this.”

Russell said he felt the “mood of the board” was to still make small improvements to Booster Field and accept the offer from Cal U.

“If it doesn’t work out, we can always go back to Booster Field,” he said.

“We’re going to walk through this slowly.”

The board also conducted the following business:

– Voted down a funding plan for capital improvement at the Mon Valley Career and Technology Center.

– Accepted the donation of a piano for the elementary school from Brian Greenlief.

– Approved the agreement for Cal U’s Student Association, Inc. Phase V Student Housing Project.

– Approved the 2006-2007 Intermediate Unit 1 general operation budget in the amount of $2,068,780, with the district contributing $8,672.61.

The board continued the regular meeting until Wednesday, March 29, at 6 p.m. in the Phillipsburg building.