Panther Valley School District Superintendent Rosemary Porembo has released a statement urging good sportsmanship and conduct from everyone involved with tonight's Panther Valley at Tamaqua football game.
The Anthracite League contest has come under scrutiny after Panther Valley head coach Frank Damian told THE TIMES NEWS on Tuesday that he would be withdrawing from the sidelines for the game.
The circumstances surrounding Damian's action have not been disclosed.
Tamaqua Area Superintendent Carol Makuta responded to the TIMES NEWS article and Damian's statement on Thursday, saying that it is a "total mispresentation of the situation."
Makuta stated Tamaqua athletes, the school and community are unjustly receiving a black eye over the implications from the statement, and that Tamaqua's athletes have conducted themselves in an appropriate manner during this season.
Makuta assured spectators for tonight's game that security and police will be in place, as always, to insure the game is played in a safe environment.
In her statement, received by THE TIMES NEWS yesterday afternoon after Thursday's edition had gone to press, Porembo said assistant coach Matt Davis will serve as interim head coach of the Panthers tonight.
No other mention was made of Damian, who is a teacher in the district.
The following is the text of Porembo's state