The Kenowa Hills Board of Education has called for the removal of Athletic Director Ross Willick and a suspension for varsity football head coach Don Fellows following a lengthy investigation into equity issues within the district’s athletic program. The actions come just days before the Knights’ football season opener against DeWitt.
According to reporting from WOODTV, the board’s decision stems from concerns raised about the school’s first-hour “Knight’s” strength and conditioning class. Investigations that began in October 2025 examined complaints about unequal access to athletic opportunities and course selection. Two detailed reports, totaling more than 100 pages, were released in redacted form after interviews with students, staff, coaches, and administrators.
Key findings highlighted that the class was exclusively male, with nearly all participants being football players. Football coaches regularly attended and exerted significant influence—head coach Don Fellows reportedly used the period to review film with his athletes. No coaches from other boys’ or girls’ sports programs attended the class. Attorney Marshall Grate, who conducted a follow-up review, noted the legal problems with operating a single-gender class without offering a corresponding opportunity for the opposite gender.
A committee of students, staff, and administrators was previously formed at the board’s direction to address the issues, but a subsequent investigation in April found that conditions had not improved and significant legal concerns remained.
Willick has the option to request a formal hearing before the board. Fellows faces a two-game suspension. District officials emphasized that the decisions were not made lightly and were driven by the responsibility to serve every student equitably.
The developments have fueled broader community frustration. A petition circulating among Kenowa Hills Public Schools supporters has gathered more than 433 signatures calling for the resignation of Superintendent Cheri Horner, along with demands for greater transparency, accountability, and student safety. Petitioners have indicated they may withhold support for the district’s operating millage proposal on the November ballot if concerns go unaddressed.
Horner, who assumed the superintendent role in July 2026 after previously serving as the district’s human resources director and a longtime elementary principal, acknowledged the challenges. In a statement, she said she entered the position aware of difficult issues and is committed to handling them “directly, transparently, and with accountability.” The district released a broader statement recognizing that the report’s findings may be painful because they involve well-known and valued community members.
A packed public meeting held in the Kenowa Hills Middle School cafeteria brought many of these tensions to the surface. Residents voiced frustration over what they described as secrecy and a lack of communication throughout the process. Board President Erin Labotz defended the approach, citing attorney-client privilege as necessary to ensure a thorough and eventually transparent investigation.
Redactions in the publicly released reports were explained as protections for staff and participants who had faced or feared retaliation from both inside the district and the wider community.
As the football team prepares for its season, the board’s actions mark a significant moment of accountability for Kenowa Hills athletics. Further updates are expected as Willick decides on a hearing and the district continues to respond to the investigation’s recommendations.
This article is based on original reporting from WOODTV.com. Full credit and source material available at the original WOODTV article. All details have been independently rewritten for clarity and originality. You can read the full WOODTV.com article here: https://www.woodtv.com/news/kent-county/kenowa-hills-board-of-education-calls-to-remove-athletic-director-suspend-football-coach/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter_WOODTV
