By Pete Borello

A standing-room-only crowd of Paul Mansingh supporters filled the board room at the Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School District last week in hopes of getting the popular Los Altos High physical education teacher his job back.

Parents and teachers spoke on Mansingh’s behalf during a special meeting held June 24 and the board received a petition with about 400 signatures supporting his return.

Yet none of it convinced board members to recommend that Los Altos retain Mansingh, who continues to serve as boys basketball coach.

“(The board) said, ‘You haven’t seen the evidence we have,’” said parent Raye Girouard, a Mansingh supporter who attended the meeting. “By not telling us, it implies he’s done something wrong. If he has, then why is he still the basketball coach?”

District policy prohibits administrators from going into detail about an employee’s dismissal and superintendent Rich Fischer did not return phone calls requesting comment by the Town Crier’s press deadline. However, the notice Mansingh received March 11 stating his contract would not be renewed did indicate it had nothing to do with budgetary constraints. In fact, Los Altos is hiring two new PE teachers for the fall, according to athletic director Monica Lodge, who spoke out in support of Mansingh at the meeting.

“What I know is that he’s a good man,” Lodge said when reached by phone on Monday “He’s a wonderful teacher and coach.”

Mansingh, who declined an interview request, was hired two years ago. Last season he guided the basketball team to its first league title in 28 years.

Although Mansingh remains the coach — he is currently running the Eagles’ summer league team — that could soon change. Lodge said Mansingh is searching for a new teaching position and likely will resign if he finds a job out of the area or that includes a coaching opportunity.