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Former Athletic Director Fights for Job

T.J. Carson
Ralph Henning and his lawyer declined to comment after a meeting with the school board about his potential reinstatement as athletic director of the Galesburg School District.

The Galesburg School District relieved Ralph Henning from his duties as athletic director about a month ago. He was reclassified to a teaching position. Henning, his lawyer and the school board met this week to discuss a possible reinstatement.

Henning had missed a 10 day deadline to request a private hearing with the school board after the reclassification was announced. But, the board granted the request.

Henning now has until April 14th to request a public hearing to make his case in an open forum. “He could bring witnesses and testify, according to what he feels are his strengths and those kind of things,” Superintendent Bart Arthur said.

Henning had been the district's athletic director for 10 years. Arthur will not provide the reason behind the reclassification aside from referencing “personnel issues." If Henning is not reinstated, he will remain classified as a teacher in the district.

The job posting for the full-time athletic director position was originally scheduled to open April 1st, but it was pushed back because of the hearing. "When we open it, if Ralph goes ahead and doesn’t require a meeting, then we’ll advertise for the job. And it will be a full-time A.D. position,” Arthur said.

Henning would not be able to re-apply for the athletic director position once it's advertised.

Steve Cheesman is currently serving as the interim athletic director. Cheesman is a retired teacher in the Galesburg School District who was working as a coach for the district before the appointment.