Istrouma relieves Foster of coaching duties

• By DAVID J. MITCHELL
• Advocate Florida parishes bureau
• Published: Apr 22, 2008 - Page: 3B - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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AMITE — Alden Foster, embroiled in a legal dispute with the Tangipahoa Parish School Board over being passed over for a coaching position, was released Monday as head football coach at Istrouma High School in Baton Rouge, school officials and Foster’s attorney said.

Istrouma High Athletic Director Cynthia Montgomery said that after several weeks of discussions with Foster, the decision was made because of the uncertainty over whether Foster would be back next year.

Montgomery said the decision was not performance-related, but said school officials just could not wait any longer.

“So in the best interests of our program, we decided to release him and seek a new football coach for Istrouma High School,” Montgomery said.

She said Foster can continue to work at the school as a physical education teacher this year, as he does now, and next year if he wishes.

The loss of the coaching post, though, will mean a pay cut for Foster, Montgomery said.

Foster’s attorney, Nelson Taylor, said the decision was a mutual one between Foster and his employers and was done in the best interests of the students.

Taylor, who also is a plaintiffs’ attorney in the Tangipahoa school desegregation case, said Istrouma High officials wanted Foster to agree to a long-term contract but he said Amite High School is where Foster wants to go.

Montgomery said the school could have started spring football practice Monday but has not. She said the school may wait a week in time to hire another coach.

Last month, U.S. District Judge Ivan L.R. Lemelle ordered the Tangipahoa Parish School Board to replace the white head football coach of Amite High with Foster, who is black.

Lemelle found, in part, the school system did not meet racial hiring ratios required decades ago under court order.

But the parish School Board has filed a motion for a rehearing, citing evidence that the system did meet the ratio.

Lemelle is overseeing the school system’s desegregation litigation, which dates from 1965. The litigation was dormant until it was revived last year with urging from the Greater Tangipahoa Parish chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.