VIDEO Beachwood Basketball Players, Community Members Speak Out

Players, parents and community members attended last night's Beachwood City Schools Board of Education meeting to ask for Melvin Burke's contract to be renewed after

"He has not only impacted our team, but he has impacted the school," said team captain Kyndal Wilson. "It really hurts when you go to a basketball game and they don't even open the concession stand for you because you have no one there to support you ... He has always taught us to keep our head high."

"What we want to do today is to let you know how important it is for our daughters - this is my daughter's senior year - this is her senior year, and she is so upset of the fact that her personal coach, her mentor, is being treated unjust and unfairly," said parent Kim Roister.

Board President Beth Rosenbaum said that the board is prohibited by law to discuss personnel matters in the public meeting, but thanked the community members and players for voicing their opinions.

Coach contracts must be renewed annually, and the athletic director, principals and superintendent make their recommendation to the Board for whether or not a contract should be renewed. Last week, the administration announced it would not renew Burke's contract as coach of the girls' basketball team, and

Burke led the Lady Bison in their best season ever in his single year with Beachwood High School.

"It feels good to say that I was a part of a team to be the first in history to win the conference championship," Wilson added.