Save the Forensics and Theater Programs at Oak Lawn Community High School

Due to the recent funding crisis at Oak Lawn Community High School, the Board of Education has had to make decisions in regards to budget cuts for the upcoming 2011-2012 school year. One of the recent decisions made by the Board was to cut one coach/sponsor from each sport/activity with multiple coaches/sponsors. This would have severe negative implications for each activity involved. The creation of this petition, although garnering attention for all extra-curricular activities, is focused on the future state of the Forensics and Theater programs at Oak Lawn Community High School. In these programs two coaches split one stipend. Therefore cutting one position will in fact cut two coaches. If this were not problematic enough, the head coach of the Forensics team and assistant Drama coach Mr. Kahriman is threatened to lose his job due to the restructuring of the administration that would put many tenured department chairs back into the classroom. Losing Mr. Kahriman, the coach with more state champions than any other coach in Oak Lawn Community High Schools history, would severely hamper the growth and development of what are undoubtedly two of the most successful and largest activities at the school. With this potential cut and the potential loss of Mr. Kahriman, these successful and meaningful activities would not be able to function optimally. This would mean a weaker team in competition, as our teams have only gotten as far as they have recently with the significant help of Mr. Kahriman. Yet more importantly it would hurt the students involved. As two programs that are designed to teach responsibility, commitment, and teamwork, these programs have been influential in producing hard-working students who take what they learn and apply it to all walks of life. In short, the recent and potential decisions of the Board of Education at Oak Lawn Community High School threaten to destroy the progress and beneficial affects of the Theater and Forensics programs at Oak Lawn Community High School, and in the scheme of things many other activities as well. The sake of these programs and the many students involved depend heavily on Mr. Kahrimans role as a teacher, coach, and mentor.

Anyone who supports these programs, Mr. Kahriman, or the fate of extra-curricular activities at Oak Lawn Community High School should sign this petition.