Palmyra school board approves 0% tax increase, declines to renew wrestling coaches amid community backlash

This article was funded by LebTown donors as part of our Civic Impact Reporting Project.

The Palmyra school board didn’t renew the high school wrestling coach’s contracts during the May 14 meeting despite an outpouring of public support for head coach Jonathan Regrets and assistant coach Josh Weidman.

This advocacy from current and former student athletes and their parents isn’t new. During the Jan. 8 school board meeting, people showed up to ask the board to reinstate the coaches following their suspensions.

That suspension, Regets previously told LebTown, came immediately after a wrestler who allegedly violated the code of conduct habitually for years was disciplined at a December match. Neither the board nor the coaches identified the student at the time, but speakers during the public comment period of the meeting mentioned one of board member Corey Andrew’s sons by name.

The suspension was later lifted.

Regets posted a letter to the Palmyra and wrestling communities on Wednesday telling the public that he and Weidman were informed their contract would not be renewed, and no explanation was given.

Superintendent Bernie Kepler made a statement toward the start of the meeting that the investigation into the coaches earlier in the year found some policy violations. Regets said before the meeting that the news “hadn’t been relayed” to him. He said the “exhaustive investigation” led to him receiving a corrective action plan that included “very minor things.”

Regets said in his letter that the wrestling community filled a “profound void” in his life, and the team became his family.

“My goal was never just to build champions on the mat, but to provide an inspiring example of how to become winners in life,” he said. “The friendships and bonds we have forged are eternal. I promise you this: I will never stop checking in on you. I will never stop being proud of the men you are becoming.”

Regets and Weidman led the team to a historic 2025-26 season for the Palmyra wrestling program. The team qualified for PIAA Team States for the first time, and sent three wrestlers — the most in the program’s history — to individual states. The two coaches were also named District 3 Coaches of the Year.

Regets said in his letter that he is left wondering why he and Weidman wouldn’t be reinstated following such a successful season.

“To see ‘politics’ used as a weapon against a program that does nothing but uplift children is, quite frankly, disgusting,” he said.

This mention of politics and retaliation was a common theme throughout the night’s dozens of public comments. Several residents suggested it was Andrew’s personal disagreement with the coaches that led to this decision.

“The truth is, a group of you are sitting up there because you want total control and power to do what benefits you, and the last five months have already proven that over and over,” resident Joran Jones said. “You don’t like something or someone, so you make up lies and allegations. You want to dismiss coaches with no explanation or reason at all.”

People also said the coaches have shown great personal commitment to the athletes and served as role models and support systems for the young men. They described the coaches taking trips to support them, answering the phone to offer advice even after graduating from the district, and showing up outside of practices to help with weightlifting or other training.

Elijah Foltz, a sophomore wrestler, said he struggled in his freshman season, but saw great improvement this year. He was the team’s first state place winner since 1988.

“That would not happen without my coaches,” Foltz said. “They’ve been there, and they work with me. You’re not going to be able to have a coach that has the level of technique and knowledge to be able to build you up physically. A thing that is not seen enough in wrestling is mentality, and I think our coaches have a great mentality, and they’re able to push you past your limits.”

Weidman also spoke during the meeting. He said the coaching staff has been teaching their wrestlers to pursue excellence and push themselves to improve.

“Pursuing excellence makes better employees and better bosses, better husbands and wives, it makes better fathers and better members of the community. It builds great leaders to change the world, one relationship at a time, but pursuing excellence is hard,” he said. “It requires accountability and standards. It requires absolute honesty, especially with yourself.”

After the meeting, Kepler said he had no comment on what policies were violated. He said that it was accurate that the administration recommended Regets and Weidman be rehired for the next winter wrestling season.

“A recent investigation into the high school wrestling program was conducted by the school district’s solicitor and this investigation identified multiple policy violations,” Kepler read from a statement. “As a result, the Board believes it is prudent and appropriate to consider additional candidates for the program’s coaching staff and has posted both high school coaching positions (head and assistant) to continue the district’s long-standing practice of allowing the head coach to recommend their assistant. The District is working diligently to ensure the continued success of the Palmyra Cougar Wrestling program.”

The staffing and administration consent agenda, which included the list of winter coaches without the wrestling coaches, was approved 5-4, with Larry Geib, Sue Gilligan, Dave Laudermilch, and Christine Fisher voting against it. Each said they had no problems approving the hirings outlined in the agenda, but didn’t want to vote in favor of coaches without Regets and Weidman included.

President Jill Martin said she could not support renewing the coaching contracts following the policy violations.

“I feel like it’s sending the wrong message. We are charged as a board with developing and enforcing policies,” she said. “We can’t hold our coaches to a different standard than our teachers. Now, I do appreciate all of the emotion and all of the things that were shared tonight. … We do answer to the entire community, not just the community that shows up into a board room, so I think that’s something we all need to be mindful of.”

Several board members, including Geib and Fisher, tried to continue the discussion or ask questions before holding the vote on the consent agenda. Martin said she was calling for a vote, and the discussion would not continue.

In other business, the school board:

• Approved the 2026-27 proposed final general fund budget, which shows $74,897,725 in expenses and revenue, in a 5-4 vote. The millage rate would stay consistent at 18.1532 mills. Geib, Gilligan, Laudermilch, and Fisher voted against the motion, citing a desire for a small tax increase to keep up with rising costs, future construction, and potential legal costs. Martin said the 0% tax increase is an opportunity to give taxpayers a break.
• Approved the curriculum committee consent agenda.
• Appointed Kozloff Stoudt Attorneys as the district’s solicitor from May 15 through June 30, 2027, in a 5-4 vote, with Geib, Gilligan, Laudermilch, and Fisher voting against the motion.
• Announced that district residents will need to register in advance to speak during public comment at future meetings. Martin said this is written in district policy, but they have not been enforcing it.

The proposed final budget is available below.

The Palmyra school board will meet next at Lingle Avenue Elementary School on May 28 at 6 p.m. Meetings can also be attended via Zoom.