BELLEFONTE — Despite sustained public pressure, a divided Bellefonte Area School Board narrowly voted against reinstating former assistant track coach Chris Friedhoff at its meeting this week.

The decision caps weeks of appeals from athletes, coaches and others connected to the program who urged the board to bring Friedhoff back for the spring outdoor track season.

Board member Donna Smith called for the up-or-down vote at the board’s previous meeting, saying the issue should be resolved transparently so the district can move forward. In the 5-4 vote, board members Jon Guizar, Kimberly Weaver, Kristin Lyons, Nate Campbell and Holly Hopkins opposed Freidhoff’s reinstatement, while Joseph Yech, Jennifer Barnhart, Timothy Kessling and Smith supported it.

Friedhoff coached track and taught biology in the district for more than a decade before resigning last summer over work-related mental health concerns. In mid-January, while coaching the indoor track season, he said he received an email from the district’s athletic director informing him that he would not be reinstated. Despite repeated attempts to understand why, he said the district never explained its decision. His contract was subsequently not brought up for renewal alongside other coaching appointments at the Jan. 20 school board meeting, prompting backlash from students, coaching staff and the community.

At Tuesday’s meeting, seven student athletes voiced support for their former coach, and the junior high’s track and field head coach, Josh Cetnar, presented the board with a petition signed by 832 people urging them to reverse course.

“Obviously, this is an issue that is really important to us, and that’s why we’ve been so involved and vocal about this,” Cetnar said. “I hope that tonight we’re able to bring this to an end and that this can be a win for all of us.”

He expressed hope for a prompt resolution, saying the ongoing infighting and media coverage have cast the district in a negative light.

“I know there are probably some board members who are on the fence about whether to approve Coach Friedhoff tonight, and to those people, I just want to ask you to consider our team and those who are here to support him tonight,” he said. “He’s an extremely important part of our program, and we’ve really missed him the past two and a half weeks that he hasn’t been able to be part of the coaching staff.”

The spring track season, which began in early March, is underway, and Friedhoff’s former position as jumps coach remains unfilled.

Near the end of the meeting, immediately before the vote, Weaver and Guizar each delivered prepared statements.

“It is a testament to the strength of our community that so many are willing to stand up for what they believe in,” Weaver said. “That kind of engagement is exactly what makes our district special.”

At the same time, she said, “While I deeply value the personal connections I share with many of you, my role on the school board requires me to look beyond the individual and focus on the health and wellbeing of the entire district.”

Weaver then said her vote would be guided by a commitment to lead by example.

“We teach our students that doing the right thing isn’t always the popular thing,” Weaver said. “If I were to let personal friendships or public pressure outweigh my duty to the district, I would be failing to model the integrity we expect from our kids.”

She then emphasized that her vote must reflect what is best for the “long-term safety, success and standards of the school system.”

“Just as you are standing up for what you believe is right, I must do the same,” she said

Choosing not to elaborate further, Weaver cited the board’s ethical and legal responsibility to maintain confidentiality, but said that based on the information presented to her, “I cannot, in good conscience, vote for this appointment.”

Guizar echoed Weaver’s appreciation for the community’s engagement and thanked residents for their continued commitment to the students and athletic department. He also reminded the public that the board’s personnel decisions must follow established guidelines.

“This means that while we can share information about timelines and procedures, we cannot disclose specific details about applicants, interviews or internal personnel matters,” Guizar said. He explained that these protections exist to ensure fairness for all candidates and to respect the privacy of everyone involved.

“We understand that many of you care deeply about the coaching position and are eager for both information and decisions,” he added. “Your involvement in this process reflects the strength of our community, and we appreciate the passion you bring to our schools.”

“What we can assure you of is that we are committed to selecting a coach who will support our students, uphold our values and contribute positively to our programs. Our decisions really are guided by what is in the best interest of the mission and vision of the district, our students and the long-term success of the district,” Guizar said.

In comments provided to The Express on Wednesday afternoon, Friedhoff said, “I’m grateful for the overwhelming support from the Bellefonte community. While I’m disappointed in the outcome, I’m proud of the impact I’ve had with student athletes during my 12 years with the program.”

“Some of the comments made by the board are concerning because they do not reflect the facts of the situation,” he added. “I wish Coach Miller, the rest of the coaching staff and the team the best of luck this season.”