Several members of the public used the board’s Feb. 20 public‑comment period to urge the Chino Valley Unified School District Board of Education to reinstate Michael Hinkle as athletic director at Chino High School and to criticize district legal strategy and policy choices.

What speakers said

- Community supporters of Michael Hinkle described him as a longtime leader and mentor. Parent Tiffany Chavez said Hinkle had “dedicated endless hours” and asked the board to reconsider removing him. Evan Gray, a 2024 graduate and former student-athlete, said Hinkle’s support inspired him to become a coach and asked the board to reinstate Hinkle.

- Several speakers asked the board to weigh community impact over procedural precedent. Scott Rosson, a teacher in the district, urged trustees to “look at the impact Mr. Hinkle’s made and the opportunity he has to make in the future and reinstate him as the athletic director at Chino High School.” Multiple parents and staff delivered written statements or spoke in support of Hinkle’s reappointment.

- Other commenters criticized district leadership and litigation. One speaker (addressing the board as a whole) invoked Martin Luther King Jr.’s line “injustice anywhere is injustice everywhere,” alleging that the district had retained racist staff and that Black and LGBTQ+ students faced mistreatment; the commenter said students had been driven to counselors and suicidal ideation in some instances.

- Several speakers addressed separate topics: a student urged review of the dress code as discriminatory toward females; a speaker encouraged the board’s SCAQMD resolution opposition and urged staff attendance at an air‑quality meeting; another speaker criticized the Liberty Justice Center’s press release about the district’s litigation and said a court had struck down portions of the district’s 2023 policy.

Why it matters: The public comment period highlighted a sustained community campaign regarding personnel decisions at Chino High School and broader district policies and litigation. The remarks show strong support among parents, students and some staff for returning a widely known athletic director to his prior role; they also underscore community concerns about equity, litigation and district messaging.

Notable direct remarks (verbatim excerpts)

- "Injustice anywhere is injustice everywhere," (public commenter Glory Ciccarelli, summarizing a civil-rights quote and citing concerns about racially based bullying).

- "I ask you to look at the impact Mr. Hinkle’s made…and reinstate him as the athletic director at Chino High School," (Scott Rosson, teacher).

- "He has been more than an athletic director. He has been a mentor, a role model, and a steady presence for students who needed guidance," (Tiffany Chavez, parent).

- "To lose him as our athletic director is a disservice to everything we stand for as an educational institution that values fairness, growth, and second chances," (Tiffany Chavez, parent statement).

What the record shows

The public‑comment period included 11 registered speakers on the night’s list and touched on multiple substantive themes: a concentrated set of speakers advocating for reinstatement of Michael Hinkle; criticism of district litigation and communications; concerns about student dress-code enforcement and discrimination; and remarks about SCAQMD rules and potential impacts on school facilities.

What the board did not decide during public comment

Public comment is not a decision-making item. The board did not formally take action on Michael Hinkle’s employment status during the open meeting; personnel matters may be the subject of closed sessions and subsequent public disclosures if required by law.