PLANO – A group of parents is upset about the sudden firing of the longtime director of the gymnastics program at the Fox Valley Family YMCA in Plano.
Parents said gymnastics director Karen Oelker was let go for no good reason May 7 after directing the program for 16 years. They said the new director and coach needs to be certified, which could take a few weeks.
Stephanie Majewski, interim CEO of the Fox Valley Family YMCA, said in an email that she could not comment because it was a personnel issue.
“Out of respect for staff involved, we are not at liberty to discuss the issue,” she wrote.
Parents T.J. and Jodi Banning of Sheridan said their 14-year-old daughter, Ashlyn, has been with the gymnastics program for five years, but they are no longer participating and have canceled their YMCA membership.
“Something smells funny,” T.J. Banning said.
The YMCA National Gymnastics Championships are scheduled for June in Ohio, and the Bannings said that although Ashlyn has chosen not to compete, there are others who already have paid their fees and will need to get ready for the tournament with a coach and director who they said is not prepared.
Kaylie Cartwright, a gymnastics coach and coordinator, posted a letter addressed to gymnastics parents on social media May 14 regarding the controversy. It was signed by Cartwright, Oelker and the other gymnastics staff.
Cartwright said that she, “along with several other staff members, walked away from our positions in solidarity” after Oelker was fired.
“We could not stand behind the Y’s decision to abruptly dismiss someone who had dedicated almost 16 years to the gymnastics program, (especially during the middle of a session),” Cartwright wrote. “Of course, if it was up to us we would still be in the gym/dance studio doing what we love, which is coaching many of your children. Being an employee of the Y for the last 14 years, I really only found respect and support working alongside Karen in the gymnastics department.”