The School Board Meetings

In each case below, the video supporting the statements quoted is public record and available through the Orono School District. I am in possession of the full and complete versions of each of the 3 meetings where parents, students, coaches, and the general public were permitted to attack my daughter and our family without any constraint for over 45 cummulative minutes. (note, public comment is constrained to 5 minutes per individual and at the time, 30 minutes per meeting… those constraints were ignored by the Orono School Board at each meeting)

Note: Each of the individuals identified herein as the current parents of athletes or athletes themselves were provided with an opportunity to address me directly or in my presence, fully aware that their comments would be made public. This opportunity was extended during a forum that was moderated by the current superintendent of the Orono School District and an external consultant. However, none of the individuals listed below opted to avail themselves of this opportunity to seek clarification or gain a deeper understanding of a dissenting perspective.

Only the chosen will be protected from retaliation

During the second of three board meetings where public comments were allowed, exceeding the permitted time limits in both overall duration and individual speaking time, a member of the public made a veiled reference to the Athletic Director, Bucky Mires, and his DUI conviction in an attempt to claim moral superiority.

The Chair of the School Board, Bob Tunheim, immediately interrupted and halted the comment, citing that personal attacks are not allowed. The individual responded with “I didn’t say his name,” to which Mr. Tunheim aggressively retorted, “We know who you are referring to.”

It is crucial to bear this incident in mind as you continue reading, where 37 adults publicly attacked a 15-year-old girl without restraint from any school board member. Now, all those comments are public and many will be noted here.

When questioned via, the school board members responded with variations of “it was a bad crowd, and we don’t want to be told ‘shame on you’ any more.”

The school board had a responsibility to protect our daughter from retaliation, but they failed both in the public meetings and at the school. I have asked every one of them as well as every new individual that has run for school board in Orono, what do you do when your integrity comes into conflict with liability or brand of the school district. Most do not answer and the two that have were unsuccessful in their campaigns.

If you aren’t smart, you shouldn’t be believed (?)

The following is an example of an affluent parent (at one point making the argument that his financial donations to the school district should afford him an amplified voice in this situation) parent of a swimmer that had swam with this coach for several years.

“Accuser was not following the rules, not wanting to swim, difficulty with academics, etc.” – Joe Eichelberger, School Board Meeting, March 12th, 2018 (Video time stamp 16:25) – Parent of a current athlete

First and foremost, it is imperative to emphasize that none of these three points provide any valid justification for disbelieving individuals who have experienced abuse. This antiquated mindset is deeply entrenched in societal norms that have persisted despite the need for change.

This is a striking example, among truly hundreds of others in this case, of an individual who, despite lacking any firsthand knowledge of the accusations, proudly and publicly divulges his name and home address, while audaciously attacking a 15-year-old girl. This behavior stems from being meticulously groomed by Mr. Buecher, leading to a baseless and uninformed response driven by unwarranted hubris. (I’m not posting the video at this time as it contains Mr. Eichelberger’s image and home address)

As mentioned in a previous post, it is important to clarify that the situation of “not following rules” was actually created by the coach, not the athlete. (see Manipulations) The coach then passes on the event he created to his well groomed supporters, as support as to why the athlete “might” be accusing him of inappropriate behavior. It is crucial to note that this athlete had a strong, multi-year track record as a top 8 swimmer in the state for her club team, and had/has maintained multiple exemplary relationships with coaches for years prior to this traumatic experience. She never once had any issues with following rules or wanting to swim until she was abused and manipulated by the Orono Swim Coach.

Perhaps the most incredulous comment in this example was regarding her “difficulty with academics”. In reality, she was the sole 8th grade student who attended high school on a daily basis, three years ahead of most of her peers in all disciplines, all while maintaining a flawless 4.0 GPA through graduation. Her unwavering academic excellence persisted throughout high school, resulting in over three-quarters of a million dollars in scholarship offers from eight different esteemed colleges and universities.

Mr. Eichelberger’s interpretation of “difficulty with academics” is beyond comprehension and a clear example of blind, malicious, and willful ignorance. I extend my heartfelt sympathy to his children if this is indeed the standard he holds.

This serves as a stark warning to others who may find themselves in similar circumstances. Anonymity is not guaranteed, and the onslaught of baseless attacks against you or your child will likely abound, regardless of truth. It is a sobering reminder that facts may not always carry weight in such situations.

Please don’t believe a victim! (?)

The belief that the voice of one should be outweighed by the voice of many is a terrifying path to look down.

“One person, how can one person take away another person’s life when all of these people are for him. I demand that next time anyone comes to you with a complaint, don’t take it as the truth.” – Jenna Lulling, School Board Meeting, March 12th, 2018 (Video Time Stamp 36:30): “Current” Athlete

For five and a half years, this athlete was groomed, utterly convinced of her coach’s supposed benevolence. So much so that she willingly stood in front of a camera and made a statement that would have sent chills down the spine of any educated adult.

Pay attention to the phrasing: “take away another person’s life…” This coach had become such a vital part of the athlete’s and her family’s lives that the athlete’s own mother later publicly stated, “Coaches should be a father figure” to their athletes. Those who fail to recognize the peril in such a statement need to take a step back and educate themselves.