Prior to voting on his contract, Plainview-Elgin-Millville Schools sent disciplinary warning to coach

PLAINVIEW, Minn. — Prior to declining to renew his contract, Plainview-Elgin-Millville Public Schools issued a “disciplinary warning and letter of directives” this summer to longtime softball coach Ben Peter about his alleged behavior toward student athletes.

The school district provided a copy of the letter to the Post Bulletin in response to a public data request. The letter was dated July 31, 2024, and references “unprofessional comments” that Peter made during the 2024 softball season.

“The district has concluded that you engaged in inappropriate and unprofessional conduct that reflected poor judgment,” the letter reads, “and violated District policy 423’s requirement that students ‘at all times’ are to be treated ‘with respect, courtesy and consideration and in a professional manner.'”

The letter listed more than a dozen situations that the district deemed inappropriate, including text messages to at least one colleague and comments he made directly to athletes.

According to the letter, which did not outline when the alleged incidents happened, Peter once told his athletes that “you girls need to hit like b——es.” In a team huddle, Peter “identified a player by name whose mother had written a letter to complain,” the letter said. In a text message to an assistant coach, Peter disparaged the mental competitiveness of an athlete.

The letter went on to say that Peter needed to take “immediate steps to address these behaviors and never again repeat them.” It then listed five directives, which were redacted in the copy provided to the Post Bulletin. P-E-M Superintendent Erick Enger said that portion of the letter was redacted “because the directives are not disciplinary actions and therefore constitute private personnel data.”

On Tuesday, Peter told the Post Bulletin that his statement about how his athletes were hitting was part of a larger conversation with the team that was meant as a rallying effort. He described the text messages as “a private, personal conversation between two coaches.”

He also said before last season, he hadn’t received any other complaints in more than 20 years of coaching. He also questioned why none of the complaints were brought up to him in the middle of the season.

Following his conversation with the Post Bulletin, Peter asked that his comments not be included in a story about his disciplinary letter.

The P-E-M School board voted on Oct. 14 not to renew Peter’s contract. The vote was divided, with board members Monica Sveen-Ziebell and Jake Thompson voting in favor of renewing Peter's contract. Board member Roger Rahman abstained. The rest of the board, including Ron Springer, Stacy Fox, Julie LaBare, and Julie Hart voted not to renew the contract.

Despite the board's decision, Peter said he hoped to be able to return to the position.

Before the board’s vote, numerous people came forward to speak about Peter’s coaching and the impact he has had on the team and its athletes.

P-E-M Basketball coach Jason Herber said there’s a toxic environment toward the district’s coaches and that the administration should do more to support them rather than drive them away.

“We face a growing challenge in recruiting and retaining coaches because the current coaching environment is unhealthy," Herber said during the meeting earlier this month. "Young teachers who express interest in coaching often retract that interest after witnessing how coaches in our district are treated by some parents and board members. ... Addressing the high turnover rate among coaches should be a priority for the board, far more so than attempting to oust coaches who are dedicated and passionate about their sports."

JV softball coach Matt Cada indicated during the meeting that he would resign if the board did not renew Peter’s contract. Enger later confirmed to the Post Bulletin that the softball program's “remaining coaches that were on our teaching staff also resigned from their positions.”

Another person who spoke prior to the school board’s vote was Darla Newcomb, a parent to multiple P-E-M athletes. She described Peter as someone who cares for his athletes and the softball program but who can also come across as intense.

"It can sometimes be seen as unyielding or overly intense," Newcomb said. "Let's advocate for improvement and support rather than punitive measures. Together we can create a culture that emphasizes the growth for both our athletes and our coach."