Palmerton Area School District Assistant Superintendent Ryan Kish has heard the criticism. Last Wednesday, he said he had reached his limit.

In a prepared statement, Kish defended his administrative team against what he described as a sustained campaign of personal attacks stemming from a personnel dispute in the athletic department, while acknowledging the district cannot publicly explain its decisions.

“Over the past several months, members of our administration have been the subject of both professional criticism and personal attacks,” Kish said. “These are individuals who work tirelessly every day to support our students, staff, and community, and continue to attend these meetings because they are committed to transparency and engagement.”

The controversy centers on the non-renewal of several coaches, most prominently Jamie Tomsic, a girls wrestling assistant coach who at the April 21 meeting told the board he was dismissed shortly after reporting a boys assistant coach for creating a hostile work environment.

Tomsic said the two reasons cited for his non-renewal, both involving unverified rumors originating from members of the boys wrestling team, were never independently investigated. A petition with roughly 600 signatures was submitted calling for his reinstatement.

Former middle school track and head cross country coach Mike Horvath also told the board he had been fired twice by Athletic Coordinator Justin Peterson, once over an incident he said he was not responsible for and once for bringing his dog to practice. Parents of girls wrestlers alleged the situation had left student athletes emotionally distressed and unwilling to continue in a sport they had come to love.

Kish said Wednesday that what has been presented publicly about those situations is incomplete.

“What is being presented publicly is not always a complete or accurate representation of the situation,” Kish said. “Our administrators are in a position where they cannot respond to many of these claims. This is not avoidance — it’s a legal and ethical obligation. Personnel matters require confidentiality, and that responsibility does not change simply because the information, accurate or not, is shared publicly.”

Kish acknowledged the frustration that creates for residents who feel entitled to answers and said he understands it. But he drew a firm line.

“While I recognize that this can be frustrating for the community, these boundaries exist for a reason, and they must be respected,” Kish said. “I support the decisions made by our administrative team. While no process is perfect, and we should always strive to improve, I’m confident that these decisions have been made thoughtfully, responsibly, and in the best interest of our students and district, even when those decisions are difficult or unpopular.”

Then came the sharper edge of his remarks. Kish said he can no longer watch colleagues be attacked without responding.

“There’s a clear distinction between constructive feedback and personal attacks,” Kish said. “Disagreement is part of a healthy community. Disrespect is not. I can no longer remain silent when individuals are targeted in a way that is unproductive and inappropriate. Such comments reflect far more on those making them than on those they’re directed towards.”

Comments limited

Board President Sherry Haas immediately followed with a statement of support, noting the board operates under the same legal constraints as the administration and is equally limited in what it can share publicly.

“This board is made up of moms, dads, aunts, and uncles who care deeply about this community,” Haas said. “Many of us also bring experience from our professions or from coaching and volunteering here and in neighboring communities. That said, we also understand what our role is and what it isn’t. We were elected to govern, not to run the day-to-day operations of the district.”

Haas said the board’s relationship with its administrators is collaborative, not merely supervisory, and pushed back on the idea that the board should intervene in personnel decisions that have been handled through proper channels.

“It’s important for the public to understand that there are legal limitations on the information that a board can receive, and those same limitations prevent those details from being discussed publicly,” she said. “We are incredibly fortunate to work alongside administrators who collaborate with us, not just work for us, and that partnership is the reason why we see so many successes coming from our district.”

Kish closed his statement with an appeal for a reset in how the community engages with the district.

“Moving forward, my hope is that we can engage in discussion that elevates our district rather than divides it,” Kish said. “Remember why we’re all in this room — it’s to serve and support our students. I hope and ask that future discussions reflect that shared purpose with the mutual respect our staff and community deserve.”

The board has not publicly addressed the status of any personnel decisions related to the coaching disputes.