Monday, February 22, 2016

Columbia High School Baseball Coaches Rehired


Maplewood, New Jersey: Columbia High School's baseball coaches will be rehired for the upcoming season. 

Coaches Joe Fischetti, Matt Becht, Sam Maietta, and Steve Campos were all reappointed at the South Orange Maplewood Board of Education meeting on Monday evening. 

The reappointment comes after a lawsuit alleging bullying by the coaches was filed by a former player earlier this month. All of the coaches, in addition to the Board of Education, the South Orange Maplewood School District, CHS, Principal Elizabeth Aaron, former Acting Superintendent James Memoli, athletics supervisor Lorenzo Busichio, the CHS Baseball Boosters, and a parent, are listed as defendants in the lawsuit. 

Fischetti also works as a physical education teacher at CHS, and Maietta is a guidance counselor at the school. 

At the meeting, several baseball players, a former player who has since graduated, and parents spoke to support the reappointment of the coaches. Amy Singer, who works as the secretary to Busichio, spoke out in his defense. Two parents of former players spoke to oppose the reappointment of the coaches. 

Six BOE members voted in favor of Fischetti's reappointment, while Elizabeth Baker, Johanna Wright, and Chris Sabin opposed it. Fischetti and Wright used to be colleagues in the physical education department at South Orange Middle School. 

Dozens of baseball players in the audience applauded following all four votes.

Send story ideas, letters to the editor, and photos to placenjwebsites@gmail.com.
Follow us on Twitter - @PlaceNJ
Like us on Facebook - Essex County Place

Click here to advertise on PlaceNJ.com, starting at just $49.