Schools

Video: Arcadia Students Take to YouTube in Support of Fired Cross-Country Coach

Arcadia High School students have posted a documentary in support of Jim O'Brien online and it has already garnered more than 16,000 views.

Arcadia High School students have posted a 15-minute documentary on YouTube that explores the firing of cross-country coach Jim O'Brien.

O'Brien, who has led the school's boys cross-country team to two national championships during his tenure, was let go by the school district last month. Students and parents have since clamored for his reinstatement.

The reasons for O'Brien's termination are unclear. The board said in June that it wanted to go in a "different direction" when it let O'Brien go and he has said it may have stemmed from an incident where he painted Xs on gym lockers that were inoperable.

At one point in the video, the filmmaker asks O'Brien why he was fired.

"I'm not sure I've ever gotten a clear and definitive answer to that question," O'Brien says in the video.

What do you think the district should do?


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